“Wear your learning like your watch, in a private pocket; and do not pull it out and strike it merely to show that you have one”
Why would you want to strike it? 
If you strike it , does it stop working? 
How many people have pocket watches these days? Nurses wear their watches on their chests and most other people wear them on the wrists.
The trouble with wise saws and sayings is that they often relate to things that no longer apply in the modern age.
But yes, of course, showing off is never called for and you're thought is wise.
It's a very old saying you daft lot!
'Striking' it meant opening it up (pocket watch)
It does still apply so long as you've got half a brain.
My favourite saying to someone who is really annoying.
"You'd make a parson throw his good book into the fire!"
Just in case the language is too old fashioned here's some definitions
par·son/ˈpärsən/Noun:
1.A beneficed member of the clergy; a rector or a vicar.
2.Any member of the clergy, esp. a Protestant one.
good book/Noun:
Bible: the sacred writings of the Christian religions
fire/fī(ə)r/Noun:
Combustion or burning, in which substances combine chemically with oxygen from the air and typically give out bright light, heat, and smoke.
Try to be a bit more offensive vampirequeen.
You're not quite making it yet.
J I've never heard of that saying before. I really like it.
matson is that your favourite saying, or were you giving advice there?
Ariadne !
Absentgrana, I believe that when one door shuts another one opens , all you have to do is push it
Oh I don't know Nonu. It's no good pushing a door that will open only when pulled.
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