Who said “A word to the wise is not sufficient if it doesn't make any sense.”?

Verified

James Thurber. A published source records them saying or writing it.

Source"The Weaver and the Worm", The New Yorker (11 August 1956); Further Fables for Our Time (1956)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

Source checked · Something wrong? Report a correction

Authors A–Z
“A word to the wise is not sufficient if it doesn't make any sense.”
— James Thurber
Verified"The Weaver and the Worm", The New Yorker (11 August 1956); Further Fables for Our Time (1956) · evidenceWisdom
Report

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: "The Weaver and the Worm", The New Yorker (11 August 1956); Further Fables for Our Time (1956).

APA

Thurber, J. (n.d.). A word to the wise is not sufficient if it doesn't make any sense. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/42174-a-word-to-the-wise-is-not-sufficient/

MLA

Thurber, James. “A word to the wise is not sufficient if it doesn't make any sense.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/42174-a-word-to-the-wise-is-not-sufficient/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Thurber, James. “A word to the wise is not sufficient if it doesn't make any sense.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/42174-a-word-to-the-wise-is-not-sufficient/.

Related quotes

“Who is wise? One who learns from all.”
— The Talmud
Original (Hebrew), Pirkei Avot 4:1

אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם, הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם

Text: Torat Emet via Sefaria (public domain)

VerifiedMishnah, Pirkei Avot 4:1 (Ben Zoma) · evidenceDetails & citeWisdom
Report

More quotes by James Thurber

“He who hesitates is sometimes saved.”
Verified"The Glass in the Field", The New Yorker (31 October 1939); Fables for Our Time & Famous Poems Illustrated (1940). · evidenceDetails & citeIndecision
Report
“You can fool too many of the people too much of the time.”
Verified"The Owl who was God", The New Yorker (29 April 1939); Fables for Our Time & Famous Poems Illustrated (1940). Parody of "You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." · evidenceDetails & citeLies and Lying
Report
“Well, if I called the wrong number, why did you answer the phone?”
VerifiedCartoon caption, The New Yorker (5 June 1937); "Word Dance--Part One", A Thurber Carnival (1960) · evidenceDetails & citeConflict
Report
All 54 James Thurber quotes →