The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.

πόλλ' οἶδ' ἀλώπηξ, ἀλλ' ἐχῖνος ἓν μέγα

Archilochus

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Topic

Hedgehogs and foxes Nature of knowledge Knowledge

Author

Archilochus

Language

Greek

Time

600 BC 600s BC 7th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Occupation

Poet

From

Greece Europe Ancient Greece

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Archilocus. The Fox and the Hedgehog. c. 650, fragment 103.

Current Citation

Archilocus. Quoted in The Fox and the Hedgehog, written by Isaiah Berlin. Princeton University Press, 2013.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Archilochus about hedgehogs and foxes: “The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.”
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A quote by Archilochus about hedgehogs and foxes: “The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.”
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A quote by Archilochus about hedgehogs and foxes: “The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote about Knowledge

Knowledge can be communicated but not wisdom.

Hermann Hesse

Siddhartha

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More information about this quote
Topic
Knowledge Wisdom
Speaker
Siddhartha

Author

Hermann Hesse
Source
Siddhartha
Language
German
Time
1922 1920s 20th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Hesse, Hermann. Siddhartha: Eine Indische Dichtung [Siddhartha: An Indian Poetry]. S. Fischer Verlag, 1922.

Current Citation

Hesse, Hermann. Siddhartha, translated by Joachim Neugroschel. Penguin Classics, 2002.

Another quote from the 7th century BC

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

Isaiah 40:4-5

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More information about this quote
Topic
Justice
Source
Isaiah The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Statement Type
Prophecies and predictions
Language
Hebrew
Time
681 BC 680s BC 7th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Isaiah 40:4-5).

Another quote from Classical antiquity

I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

God

Exodus 20:2

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Topic
Deliverance of Israel Liberation
Speaker
God
Source
Exodus The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Language
Hebrew
Time
1405 BC 1400s BC 15th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Exodus 20:2).

Another quote originally in Greek

Democracy, which is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequals alike.

Socrates

Quoted in Republic, by Plato

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More information about this quote
Topic
Democracy Politics
Speaker
Socrates

Author

Plato
Source
Republic
Medium
Philosophical dialogue Dialogue
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
Greek
Time
375 BC 370s BC 4th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Πολιτεία [Republic], written by Plato. c. 375 BCE.

Current Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Republic, written by Plato, translated by Desmond Lee. Penguin Classics, 2007.