People Who Possess True Wisdom Display These 12 Behaviors

These are the characteristics shared by truly wise people.

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair and glasses, wearing a brown polka-dot blouse, smiles and holds her glasses with one hand. She is indoors, with soft lighting and a blurred background showing round lights and shadows.

Every culture has stories of wise people, ranging from monks and spiritual leaders to philosophers and mountain hermits whom travelers would consult for advice. But what traits do the wisest people on Earth all have in common? Let’s take a look:

1. They listen far more than they speak.

Two men sit at a wooden table in a relaxed setting, each holding a glass of beer. The man on the left, in a green shirt, gestures as he speaks, while the man on the right, in a blue sweater, listens attentively with his hand resting on his chin.

We can’t listen or observe when we’re talking, because our attention is on flapping our jaws and making sounds. Wise people spend far more time listening to others, as well as the world around them, and taking note of the subtleties they hear—not just the words that are spoken to them.

2. They are perpetually curious.

A man with gray hair is seated outdoors, resting his chin on his clasped hands. He looks to the right with a contemplative expression. The background is blurred, showing green foliage and a bicycle. The scene is brightly lit with natural sunlight.

For many wise people, one of their favorite words is “why?”. They’re curious about most things they come across, and they are just as interested to learn how electricity works as why some plant species are interdependent, or how to cook their favorite meals. Their perpetual curiosity keeps them mentally active and aware.

3. They tend to speak in more measured tones.

They know that there’s no hurry to get their point across, and that miscommunications often happen when a person speaks more quickly than they can think. As a result, they speak clearly, in a measured fashion, pausing regularly to gather their thoughts, so there’s little room for error or misinterpretation.

4. They’re unhurried.

A woman with long, wavy, gray hair and a pleasant smile looks at the camera. She is wearing a light brown shirt and is positioned in a well-lit room with a blurred background featuring plants and furniture.

They’ve learned time and time again that there’s no real rush to make anything happen. Unless they’re actively fleeing an erupting volcano, they know that life happens at its own pace, and they’ll get much further if they flow along with it, rather than hurrying it along to suit their own preferences.

5. They have a well-rounded worldview.

Black and white portrait of an elderly man with a thoughtful expression. He has a full grey beard and hair, and is resting his chin on his crossed arms. He wears a pinstriped suit jacket and looks slightly to the side, with a pensive gaze.

This can include knowledge of other cultures, customs, philosophies, and ideals, including those that are opposite to their own preferences. In fact, they may intentionally delve into topics that they disagree with in order to better understand the people whose ideas and beliefs conflict with their own.

6. They are not threatened by opposing ideals.

A person with curly hair smiles warmly at the camera. They are wearing a red and white striped shirt and are outdoors, with blurry white steps in the background.

They prefer to debate and discuss subjects rather than become hostile, argue, shout, or demean anyone. Their search is for knowledge and the truth of the situation, rather than merely to “win” anything in the short term. Many of them welcome healthy debate, as clarity in discussion helps everyone involved.

7. They’re open to changing their stance on a subject if evidence arises to contradict their previously held views.

A middle-aged man with short dark hair and a beard smiles warmly at the camera. He is wearing a black clerical shirt with a white collar. The background is softly blurred, featuring bright, natural light coming through windows.

Instead of choosing a hill to die on about a subject they feel strongly about, they embrace new evidence as it arises and change their stance accordingly. It’s only logical and reasonable that they change their mind when faced with new information: to do otherwise would make them lose self-respect.

8. They don’t shoot first and ask questions later.

An elderly person with a white beard and mustache smiles warmly at the camera. They are wearing a red and white striped sweater. The background is plain and gray, highlighting the person as the focal point of the image.

Many people are quick to make assumptions about situations, then take action based on those assumptions, and then feel bad when they turn out to be wrong. In contrast, wise people will observe, inquire, analyze, make an assessment, and then take action, thus reducing the chances of causing harm without just cause.

9. They are very slow to jump on any bandwagon, if at all.

A middle-aged man with a salt-and-pepper beard and short hair gazes thoughtfully to the side. He is wearing a blue t-shirt and a denim jacket. The background shows trees softly blurred, suggesting an outdoor setting at sunset.

They don’t get carried along with a crowd (especially if said crowd is wielding pitchforks), but instead will observe everything as a whole to see how situations unfold. No witch hunts, no instant, unilateral side-taking. They’ll take time to let the entire picture reveal itself before determining their position on the subject.

10. They’re cautious about stereotypes and generalizations.

Smiling elderly woman with curly gray hair, wearing a blue shirt, standing outdoors with blurred greenery and sunlight in the background.

Many people create stereotypes in order to justify personal biases and bigotry. In contrast, wise people will get to know people, objects, and circumstances on an individual level, and value them based on reason and facts, rather than making assumptions based on sweeping generalizations.

11. They tend to appreciate spending time in nature.

A woman wearing a tan cap and a casual scarf smiles while leaning on a wooden fence outdoors. She is dressed in a white long-sleeve shirt and appears to be enjoying a serene day in the nature with green foliage and a pathway in the background.

There’s a reason why wizards and sages are often depicted in outdoor surroundings. Wise people don’t simply understand that nature is healing—they get great joy from spending time outside, listening to birds and the wind in the trees, observing (and befriending!) animals, and feeling their oneness with creation.

12. They know that they always have so much more to learn.

A close-up of an elderly man with short gray hair and a mustache, wearing an orange button-up shirt. The man has a gentle smile and is looking directly at the camera. The background is plain and softly lit.

They live with the mantra of: “All I know is that I don’t know, and I’m certain of uncertainty”.

Truly wise people know that no matter how much they learn in life, they’ve only just brushed the surface of all the knowledge they’re capable of attaining. This keeps them humble, and perpetually learning.