No man is so foolish but he may sometimes give another good counsel, and no man so wise that he may not easily err if he takes no other counsel than his own. He that is taught only by himself has a fool for a master.
—Ben Jonson (1572–1637) English Dramatist, Poet, Actor
Death is a very dull, dreary affair, and my advice to you is to have nothing whatever to do with it.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
There is nothing which we receive with so much reluctance as advice.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Never give anyone the advice to buy or sell shares, because the most benevolent price of advice can turn out badly.
—Lope de Vega (1562–1635) Spanish Playwright, Poet
Advice is least heeded when most needed.
—English Proverb
You will always find some Eskimos willing to instruct the Congolese on how to cope with heat waves.
—Stanislaw Jerzy Lec (1909–1966) Polish Aphorist, Poet
It is more easy to be wise for others than for ourselves.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Give neither advice nor salt, until you are asked for it.
—English Proverb
Older and wiser voices can always help you find the right path, if you are only willing to listen.
—Jimmy Buffett (b.1946) American Musician, Author
This is a great country, and it wasn’t made so by angry people. We have a sacred duty to bequeath it to our grandchildren in better shape than however we found it. We have a long way to go and we’re not getting any younger. Dante said that the hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who in time of crisis remain neutral, so I have spoken my piece, and thank you, dear reader. It’s a beautiful world, rain or shine, and there is more to life than winning.
—Garrison Keillor (b.1942) American Author, Humorist, Radio Personality
I agree with every word you write, and I can prove this in no better way than by taking your advice from beginning to end.
—Ellen Glasgow (1873–1945) American Novelist
We should be careful and discriminating in all the advice we give. We should be especially careful in giving advice that we would not think of following ourselves. Most of all, we ought to avoid giving counsel which we don’t follow when it damages those who take us at our word.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
If I were asked to give what I consider the single most useful bit of advice for all humanity it would be this: Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and when it comes, hold you head high, look it squarely in the eye and say, “I will be bigger than you. You cannot defeat me.”
—Ask Ann Landers (1918–2002) American Advice Columnist
He who cures a disease may be the skillfullest, but he that prevents it is the safest physician.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
One good punch on your enemy’s nose, gives more pleasure than hearing well-meaning advice from your elders.
—Tibetan Proverb
Disease can never be conquered, can never be quelled by emotion’s willful screaming or faith’s symbolic prayer. It can only be conquered by the energy of humanity and the cunning in the mind of man. In the patience of a Curie, in the enlightenment of a Faraday, a Rutherford, a Pasteur, a Nightingale, and all other apostles of light and cleanliness, rather than of a woebegone godliness, we shall find final deliverance from plague, pestilence, and famine.
—Sean O’Casey (1880–1964) Irish Dramatist, Memoirist
If you achieve success, you will get applause, and if you get applause, you will hear it. My advice to you concerning applause is this; enjoy it but never quite believe it.
—Robert Montgomery (1904–81) American Film, Television Actor, Director, Producer
Never play cards with a man called Doc. Never eat at a place called Mom s. Never sleep with a woman whose troubles are worse than your own.
—Nelson Algren (1909–81) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer, but wish we didn’t.
—Erica Jong (b.1942) American Novelist, Feminist
Disease is an experience of mortal mind. It is fear made manifest on the body. Divine Science takes away this physical sense of discord, just as it removes a sense of moral or mental in-harmony.
—Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910) American Christian Science Religious Leader, Humanitarian, Writer
I cannot give any scientist of any age better advice than this: the intensity of a conviction that a hypothesis is true has no bearing over whether it is true or not.
—Peter Medawar (1915–87) British Zoologist, Immunologist
To listen to some devout people, one would imagine God never laughs.
—Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950) Indian Mystic, Philosopher, Poet
Good advice is always certain to be ignored, but that’s no reason not to give it.
—Agatha Christie (1890–1976) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
The best career advice to give to the young is “Find out what you like doing best and get someone to pay you for doing it.”
—Katharine Whitehorn (b.1928) English Journalist, Writer, Columnist
We all admire the wisdom of people who come to us for advice.
—Arthur Helps (1813–75) English Dramatist, Essayist
In giving advice seek to help, not to please, your friend.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Everyone detected with AIDS should be tattooed in the upper forearm, to protect common needle users, and on the buttock, to prevent the victimization of other homosexuals.
—William F. Buckley, Jr. (1925–2008) American TV Personality, Author
Never believe in anything until it has been officially denied.
—Otto von Bismarck (1815–98) German Chancellor, Prime Minister
The war is lost for too much advice.
—Sicilian Proverb
It takes a great man to give sound advice tactfully, but a greater to accept it graciously.
—Logan Pearsall Smith (1865–1946) American-British Essayist, Bibliophile
He that has no children brings them up well.
—Common Proverb
My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it’s on your plate — that’s my philosophy.
—Thornton Wilder (1897–1975) American Novelist, Playwright
Consult. To seek another’s approval of a course already decided on.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Most of us ask for advice when we know the answer but want a different one.
—Ivern Ball (1926–92) American Writer, Aphorist
Not as thou sayest, but as thy fellows say.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
I always advise people never to give advice.
—P. G. Wodehouse (1881–1975) British Novelist, Short-story Writer, Playwright
Great effort is required to arrest decay and restore vigor. One must exercise proper deliberation, plan carefully before making a move, and be alert in guarding against relapse following a renaissance.
—I Ching Ancient Chinese Divination Text
I realize that advice is worth what it costs–that is, nothing.
—Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) American Military Leader
Poor servants ask advice after a thing has happened.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
A good scare is worth more to a man than good advice.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
People are always willing to follow advice when it accords with their own wishes.
—Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington (1789–1849) Irish Novelist, Writer
If a man knows where to get good advice, it is as though he could supply it himself.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
The only thing to do with good advice is pass it on. It is never any use to oneself.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.
—Anne Frank (1929–45) Holocaust Victim
The rich are always advising the poor, but the poor seldom return the compliment.
—Arthur Helps (1813–75) English Dramatist, Essayist
Hear sixty advisers, but be guided by your own conviction.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Advice is sought to confirm a position already taken.
—William Osler (1849–1919) Canadian Physician
Wise men don’t need advice. Fools won’t take it.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
I’ve always found that the speed of the boss is the speed of the team.
—Lee Iacocca (1924–2019) American Businessperson
I sometimes give myself admirable advice, but I am incapable of taking it.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762) English Aristocrat, Poet, Novelist, Writer
Too many captains sink the ship.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Never put anything on paper, my boy, and never trust a man with a small black moustache.
—P. G. Wodehouse (1881–1975) British Novelist, Short-story Writer, Playwright
The biggest disease today is not leprosy or cancer or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted, uncared for, deserted by everybody. The greatest evil is the lack of love and charity, the terrible indifference towards one’s neighbor.
—Mother Teresa (1910–97) Roman Catholic Missionary, Nun
What you do not use yourself, do not give to others. For example: advice.
—Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) Indian Yoga Teacher
I shut my eyes in order to see.
—Paul Gauguin (1848–1903) French Post-Impressionist Painter
So act that your principle of action might safely be made a law for the whole world.
—Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) Prussian German Philosopher, Logician
The worst men often give the best advice.
—Philip James Bailey (1816–1902) English Poet
I am, at heart, a tiresome nag complacently positive that there is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise.
—Gore Vidal (1925–48) American Novelist, Essayist, Journalist, Playwright
Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. So aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
It is always a silly thing to give advice, but to give good advice is absolutely fatal.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
The advice of the elders to young men is very apt to be as unreal as a list of the hundred best books.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841–1935) American Jurist, Author
Read carefully anything that requires your signature. Remember the big print giveth and the small print taketh away.
—H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (b.1940) American Self-Help Author
Never claim as a right what you can ask as a favor.
—John Churton Collins (1848–1908) English Literary Critic
To profit from good advice requires more wisdom than to give it.
—John Churton Collins (1848–1908) English Literary Critic
Where there is no counsel, the people perish; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.
—Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) Italian Monk, Founder of the Franciscan Order
The action of a fool cannot serve as a precedent.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
A thing to which a fool does not consent, know as the right thing.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Blessings on your young courage, boy; that’s the way to the stars.
—Virgil (70–19 BCE) Roman Poet