“I was born wise. Street-wise, people-wise, self-wise. This wisdom was my birthright. I was also born old. And illegitimate. But the two big advantages I had at birth were to have been born wise and to have been born in poverty.”

Source: Choke

(from vol 2, letter 9: 4 Oct 1778, to Mr S___ ).

23a-c
Plato, Apology

1: 17 - 31 (KJV) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%201&amp;version=SBLGNT;KJV <br class="br">First Epistle to the Corinthians <br class="br">Context: Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.<br>For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.<br>Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?<br>For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.<br>For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.<br>But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Source: Antigone, Line 1347, closing lines

Source: 1790s, Life and Adventures of Peter Porcupine (1796), P. 1

Il était passionné et se croyait sage; j'étais folle, mais je m'en doutais, et, sous ce point de vue, j'étais plus près que lui de la Sagesse.
Maximes et Pensées, #562
Maxims and Considerations

The Napoleon of Notting Hill (1904)
The Napoleon of Notting Hill (1904)

Source: A Farewell to Arms (1929)