Life is the only real counselor; wisdom unfiltered through personal experience does not become a part of the moral tissue.

Quote by Edith Wharton

Topics: Experience Quotes, Life Quotes

The air of ideas is the only air worth breathing.

The air of ideas is the only air worth breathing.

To be able to look life in the face: that's worth living in a garret...

To be able to look life in the face: that's worth living in a garret...

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that...

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that...

My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet.

My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet.

I despair of the Republic! Such dreariness, such whining sallow women, such utter absence of...

I despair of the Republic! Such dreariness, such whining sallow women, such utter absence of...

It would presently be his task to take the bandage from this young woman's eyes,...

It would presently be his task to take the bandage from this young woman's eyes,...

Life is always a tightrope or a feather bed. Give me the tightrope.

Life is always a tightrope or a feather bed. Give me the tightrope.

If we'd stop trying to be happy we could have a pretty good time.

If we'd stop trying to be happy we could have a pretty good time.

Silence may be as variously shaded as speech.

Silence may be as variously shaded as speech.

Old age, calm, expanded, broad with the haughty breadth of the universe, old age flowing...

Old age, calm, expanded, broad with the haughty breadth of the universe, old age flowing...

He had to deal all at once with the packed regrets and stifled memories of...

He had to deal all at once with the packed regrets and stifled memories of...

When people ask for time, it's always for time to say no. Yes has one...

When people ask for time, it's always for time to say no. Yes has one...

Habit is necessary; it is the habit of having habits, of turning a trail into...

Habit is necessary; it is the habit of having habits, of turning a trail into...

After all, one knows one's weak points so well, that it's rather bewildering to have...

After all, one knows one's weak points so well, that it's rather bewildering to have...

Old age, calm, expanded, broad with the haughty breadth of the universe, old age flowing...

Old age, calm, expanded, broad with the haughty breadth of the universe, old age flowing...

Misfortune had made Lily supple instead of hardening her, and a pliable substance is less...

Misfortune had made Lily supple instead of hardening her, and a pliable substance is less...

The American landscape has no foreground and the American mind no background.

The American landscape has no foreground and the American mind no background.

Beware of monotony; it's the mother of all the deadly sins.

Beware of monotony; it's the mother of all the deadly sins.

True originality consists not in a new manner but in a new vision.

True originality consists not in a new manner but in a new vision.

In any really good subject, one has only to probe deep enough to come to...

In any really good subject, one has only to probe deep enough to come to...