Wisdom begins in wonder
Meaning: Curiosity and a sense of amazement at the world are the foundations of all knowledge.
Origin: From Plato's dialogue Theaetetus, where Socrates says that wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder. Aristotle repeats the thought in his Metaphysics.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- French: La sagesse commence dans l'émerveillement (literally: Wisdom begins in wonder)
- Spanish: La sabiduría comienza con la admiración (literally: Wisdom begins in admiration)
- Japanese: 知恵は驚きから始まる (Chie wa odoroki kara hajimaru) (literally: Wisdom begins with wonder)
- German: Die Philosophie beginnt mit dem Staunen (literally: Philosophy begins with wondering/astonishment)
More proverbs about Wisdom
- He who is everywhere is nowhere — Trying to do too many things at once means accomplishing nothing properly.
- Do not go where the path may lead; go where there is no path and leave a trail — True innovation and leadership mean forging your own way rather than following the crowd.
- A nail is driven out by another nail — New habits, relationships, or ideas can effectively replace and eliminate old ones.
- The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook — True wisdom includes knowing which details and offenses are not worth your attention or e…
- A bad penny always comes back — Undesirable people or problems have a persistent way of reappearing despite your efforts…
- A buck's a buck — Money retains equal value regardless of its source or the circumstances under which it wa…