Wisdom Cryptograms
Quotes about wisdom, encoded as substitution ciphers and laid out for paper — big type, a blank under every letter, answers on their own page.
Twenty-six quotations that all turn on the same thing: knowing, or the limits of knowing. Emerson on the forest inside an acorn, Wilde on temptation and on the useful uses of experience, Lincoln, Brontë, Thoreau, and a half-dozen proverbs. Grouping them by subject rather than by author means the sheets read as an argument between people who never met, which is a different pleasure from working through one writer's collected lines.
Difficulty is deliberately mixed here — three easy, thirteen middling, seven hard and three at the top of the range — because the subject, not the challenge, is what holds the set together. Sheets are ordered shortest first, so each one starts gently and closes on the longest quotation in that batch.
The set to reach for when the point of the afternoon is the quotations rather than the code. Works well read aloud from the answer page afterwards, which is the only time we would suggest reading the answers at all.
This section: 1527 quotations, written between 700 BC and 1945, 40 to 140 letters long, graded easy / medium / hard / expert. Voices you will meet: Abraham Cowley, Abraham Lincoln, Aesop, Alain-Rene Lesage, Alexander Pope, Alfred Tennyson and 136 more.
The 255 sheets
Set 1
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 2
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 3
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 4
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 5
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 6
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 7
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 8
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 9
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 10
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 11
6 puzzles · Hard, Expert
Set 12
6 puzzles · Hard, Expert
Set 13
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 14
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 15
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 16
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 17
6 puzzles · Hard, Expert
Set 18
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 19
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 20
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 21
6 puzzles · Medium, Expert
Set 22
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 23
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 24
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 25
6 puzzles · Hard, Expert
Set 26
6 puzzles · Hard, Expert
Set 27
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 28
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 29
6 puzzles · Easy, Hard, Expert
Set 30
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 31
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 32
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 33
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 34
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 35
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 36
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 37
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 38
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 39
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 40
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 41
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 42
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 43
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 44
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 45
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 46
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 47
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 48
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 49
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 50
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 51
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 52
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 53
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 54
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 55
6 puzzles · Medium, Expert
Set 56
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 57
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 58
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 59
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 60
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 61
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 62
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 63
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 64
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 65
6 puzzles · Hard, Expert
Set 66
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 67
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 68
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 69
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 70
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 71
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 72
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 73
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 74
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 75
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 76
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 77
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 78
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 79
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 80
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 81
6 puzzles · Hard, Expert
Set 82
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 83
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 84
6 puzzles · Hard, Expert
Set 85
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 86
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 87
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 88
6 puzzles · Medium, Expert
Set 89
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 90
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 91
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 92
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 93
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 94
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 95
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 96
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 97
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 98
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 99
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 100
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 101
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 102
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 103
6 puzzles · Medium, Expert
Set 104
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 105
6 puzzles · Medium, Expert
Set 106
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 107
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 108
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 109
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 110
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 111
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 112
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 113
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 114
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 115
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 116
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 117
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 118
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 119
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 120
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 121
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 122
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 123
6 puzzles · Medium, Expert
Set 124
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 125
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 126
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 127
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Expert
Set 128
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 129
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 130
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 131
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 132
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 133
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 134
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 135
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 136
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 137
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 138
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 139
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 140
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 141
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 142
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 143
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 144
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 145
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 146
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 147
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 148
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 149
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 150
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 151
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 152
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 153
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 154
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 155
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 156
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 157
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 158
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 159
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 160
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 161
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 162
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 163
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 164
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 165
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 166
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 167
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 168
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 169
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 170
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 171
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 172
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 173
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 174
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 175
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 176
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 177
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 178
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 179
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 180
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 181
6 puzzles · Hard
Set 182
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 183
6 puzzles · Medium
Set 184
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 185
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 186
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 187
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 188
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 189
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 190
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 191
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 192
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 193
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 194
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 195
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 196
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Expert
Set 197
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 198
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 199
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 200
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 201
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Expert
Set 202
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 203
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard, Expert
Set 204
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 205
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Expert
Set 206
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 207
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 208
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 209
6 puzzles · Medium, Hard
Set 210
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 211
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 212
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 213
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 214
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 215
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 216
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 217
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 218
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 219
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 220
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 221
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 222
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 223
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 224
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 225
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 226
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 227
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 228
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 229
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 230
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 231
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 232
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 233
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 234
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 235
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 236
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 237
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 238
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 239
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 240
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 241
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 242
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 243
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 244
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 245
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 246
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 247
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 248
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium, Hard
Set 249
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 250
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 251
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 252
6 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 253
5 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 254
5 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Set 255
5 puzzles · Easy, Medium
Every sheet prints on US Letter with half-inch margins, gives you a blank line under each cipher letter, and keeps the answer key on its own page so nothing is spoiled while you work.