It is one thing to be clever and another to be wise.

The line draws a sharp distinction between quick intellect (“clever”) and sound judgment (“wise”). Cleverness suggests mental agility—finding solutions, winning arguments, or spotting opportunities—often in the short term. Wisdom implies a deeper, steadier capacity to weigh consequences, understand people, and choose well even when clever tactics tempt one toward vanity or harm. Read this way, the quote cautions against mistaking brilliance for maturity: intelligence can be used to rationalize poor choices, while wisdom is measured by restraint, perspective, and ethical discernment. It also implies that true insight is not merely knowing more, but knowing what matters and acting accordingly.