Top Ten wisest in Middle-Earth

[Lalaith]

Galadriel and Cirdan were both wiser than Elrond.
Cirdan gave the ring to Gandalf, showing a. discretion (chosing him over Saruman, who was the eldest of the Order) and b. modesty (it was *his* ring, but he felt Gandalf could use it better.
Galadriel, through her Mirror, showed insight and wisdom. She backed Gandalf, too.
Elrond, meanwhile, didn't want Merry and Pippin to join the Fellowship.

Melian was extremely wise. Ingwe was circumspect - you can call that wise I suppose. Finrod, yes, definitely. Maedhros, yes, eventually. The Union was pretty wise.
Celeborn was wise in that he listened to Galadriel.
And Tom B and Goldberry should be there too I expect.

[Tuor in Gondolin]

I think we're forgetting Farmer Maggot!

(For character references see Gandalf and Bombadil).

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

But Melian is not allowed.

Bombadil and Goldberry I suppose could be argued, but (and it had to come sooner rather than later) we should first clarify our terms: what is wisdom?

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Eomer of the Rohirrim

but (and it had to come sooner rather than later) we should first clarify our terms: what is wisdom?

Exactly. I mean Saruman was wise in a sense as well as with his title... but was he?

It's more of a stinger one first thinks it is.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Popular definition seems to be: knowledge of what is true or right, and the ability to act accordingly.

It's clear that Elves will amass much more knowledge than any man, hobbit or dwarf; but how much of this knowledge relates to things that are, shall we say, inessential? Things like languages, names, places -- later creations.

Bombadil claims to be the first: maybe his wisdom is purer. Maybe what followed is all superfluous to true wisdom. Or maybe he's like one of those annoying people who claim that all modern music is pointless because true music ended with Beethoven.

[Eönwë]

Well, when I searched on online dictionaries, I got something along the lines of "Good judgment (often from knowledge and experience in life)"

Ringbearers:

Círdan is a bit of a problem. How much of the wisdom is his own and how much is Ulmo's?
But my guess is, that over time, Círdan not only gained wisdom through experience, but through Ulmo he could see what the right thing to do was. Maybe like having a good role model or being shown the right course of action (though I guess it is debatable how wise the Ulmo is, or indeed any of the Valar. But I do seem to recall that Ulmo has the most "foresight" of all the Valar). And I'm sure he trusted Ulmo (after all, he agreed to stay in Middle-Earth for the lifetimes of many men). Then again, like Ulmo, Círdan trusted the Númenóreans, and look where that led to.
But even without Ulmo, living (possibly) as long as the entire history of the elves must have some good effects.
But anyway, I think (or at least hope) that all the other decisions were his, in which case, he is definately in the "Top 3" wisest, and arguably in "Ye Numbere One Spotte"

Galadriel, on the other hand, has been to Valinor, so I'd guess she'd have more wisdom than someone her age in Middle-Earth. But maybe not. She is proud and rash and goes against the Valar and refuses their pardon. But by the end of the Third Age she has calmed down, and at that time she at least seems wise. HEr husband is Celeborn the Wise, but it seems to me that the real wisdom comes from Galadriel.

Elrond is much younger than those two, but he seems to posess a lot of wisdom still. Well, you all probably know his story. As a side note, he is also connected to Círdan.


Also, Gil-Galad bears consideration.

[Gollum the Great]

Galadriel said: "For the Lord of the Galadhrim is accounted the wisest of the Elves of Middle-earth,"
-The Fellowship of the Ring

If we're speaking in the War of the Ring, I'd put him over Galadriel, Elrond, and Cirdan.