“Common sense is in spite of, not the result of, education.”

“Common sense in matters medical is rare, and is usually in inverse ratio to the degree of education.”

William Osler (1849–1919) Canadian pathologist, physician, educator, bibliophile, historian, author, cofounder of Johns Hopkins Hospi…

“It was in making education not only common to all, but in some sense compulsory on all, that the destiny of the free republics of America was practically settled.”

James Russell Lowell (1819–1891) American poet, critic, editor, and diplomat

“Common Sense and Education: The more you think you have of one, the less you think you need of the other.”

Tom Heehler American author

“There was a sense of security in old, familiar feelings in spite of their discomfort.”

Hubert Selby Jr. book The Room

“We must frankly confess, then, using our empirical common sense and ordinary practical prejudices, that in the world that actually is, the virtues of sympathy, charity, and non-resistance may be, and often have been, manifested in excess. … You will agree to this in general, for in spite of the Gospel, in spite of Quakerism, in spite of Tolstoi, you believe in fighting fire with fire, in shooting down usurpers, locking up thieves, and freezing out vagabonds and swindlers.”

William James (1842–1910) American philosopher, psychologist, and pragmatist

“Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing.”

Clive James (1939–2019) Australian author, critic, broadcaster, poet, translator and memoirist

“Common sense ain't common.”

Will Rogers (1879–1935) American humorist and entertainer

“The highest result of education is tolerance”

Helen Keller (1880–1968) American author and political activist

“Using, as an excuse, others’ failure of common sense is in itself a failure of common sense.”

Nassim Nicholas Taleb book The Bed of Procrustes: Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms