The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook

Meaning: True wisdom includes knowing which details and offenses are not worth your attention or energy.

Origin: William James, American psychologist and philosopher, The Principles of Psychology (1890).

Translations

• French: L'art d'être sage, c'est de savoir quoi négliger (literally: The art of being wise is knowing what to neglect)
• Spanish: El arte de ser sabio es saber qué ignorar (literally: The art of being wise is knowing what to ignore)
• Japanese: 賢さの技は何を見過ごすかを知ることだ (Kashikosa no waza wa nani wo misugosu ka wo shiru koto da) (literally: The art of wisdom is knowing what to overlook)

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