“Wisdom denotes the pursuing of the best Ends by the best Means.”

—  Francis Hutcheson (philosopher)

An Inquiry into the Original of our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue (1725), Treatise I, Sect. V

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Wisdom denotes the pursuing of the best Ends by the best Means." by Francis Hutcheson (philosopher)?
Francis Hutcheson (philosopher) photo
Francis Hutcheson (philosopher)7
Irish philosopher 1694–1746

Related quotes

“It is not likely that science, which is basically the cause of our spiritual troubles, is likely also to produce the cure for them. Also it lies in the nature of science that, though it can teach us the best means for achieving our ends, it can never tell us what ends to pursue.”

Walter Terence Stace (1886–1967) British civil servant, educator and philosopher.

p.13.

Abraham Lincoln photo

“I do the very best I know how, the very best I can, and I mean to keep on doing so until the end.”

Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) 16th President of the United States

Kenneth N. Waltz photo

“Each state pursues its own interest's, however defined, in ways it judges best. Force is a means of achieving the external ends of states because there exists no consistent, reliable process of reconciling the conflicts of interest that inevitably arise among similar units in a condition of anarchy.”

Kenneth N. Waltz book Man, the State, and War

Source: Man, the State, and War (1959), Chapter VIII, Conclusion, p. 238

Lloyd Kenyon, 1st Baron Kenyon photo

“If people with the very best intentions carry on prosecutions that are oppressive, the end may not always perhaps sanctify the means.”

Lloyd Kenyon, 1st Baron Kenyon (1732–1802) British Baron

Williams' Case (1797), 26 How. St. Tr. 704.

Frank Zappa photo

“Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love. Love is not music. Music is the best…”

Frank Zappa (1940–1993) American musician, songwriter, composer, and record and film producer

"Packard Goose"
"Joe's Garage Acts II & III" (1979)
Variant: Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love. Love is not music. Music is the best.

Ramana Maharshi photo

“Have faith in God and in yourself; that will cure all. Hope for the best, expect the best, toil for the best and everything will come right for you in the end.”

Ramana Maharshi (1879–1950) Indian religious leader

“Submission to Allah's Will is the best companion; wisdom is the noblest heritage; theoretical and practical knowledge are the best signs of distinction; deep thinking will present the clearest picture of every problem.”

Ali book Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha

Gautama Buddha photo

“Faith is the best wealth for a man in this world. Righteousness when well practised brings happiness. Truth is the sweetest of flavours. They say the life of one living by wisdom is the best.”

Gautama Buddha (-563–-483 BC) philosopher, reformer and the founder of Buddhism

§ 182
Source: Pali Canon, Sutta Pitaka, Khuddaka Nikaya (Minor Collection), (Suttas falling down)

Colin Powell photo

“The freedom to do your best means nothing unless you are willing to do your best.”

Colin Powell (1937) Former U.S. Secretary of State and retired four-star general

Agatha Christie photo

“He laughs best who laughs at the end.”

Agatha Christie book The Big Four

Source: The Big Four

Related topics