How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)
Quote #10
The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one bungler destroys much good. (NRSV 9:17-18)
The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good. (KJV 9:17-18)
Wisdom is more effective at solving problems than violence. This means that you can more easily get around a problem by understanding the nature of it and seeing how life works than by trying to just blast your way through it. Even so, one foolish person alone can wreck all the good work that wisdom would've accomplished.
Quote #11
If the iron is blunt, and one does not whet the edge, then more strength must be exerted; but wisdom helps one to succeed. If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage in a charmer. Words spoken by the wise bring them favor, but the lips of fools consume them. The words of their mouths begin in foolishness, and their talk ends in wicked madness; yet fools talk on and on. No one knows what is to happen, and who can tell anyone what the future holds? (NRSV 10:10-14)
If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better. The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? (KJV 10:10-14)
A whole bunch of Ecclesiastes's favorite topics are all bundled together here—wisdom is like a tool that helps us to be sharper and more effective. But if you spend too much time in preparing to be sharper and more effective and don't actually use wisdom in life, you can easily wind up dead or destroyed—like the snake charmer who didn't bother to charm the snake right in front of him. He also sounds off against fools talking too much, again, and says, one last time, that we can never hope to wrap our minds around everything that's happening in time.