Learning

Explore 25 quotes about Learning

We learn an art or craft by doing the things that we shall have to do when we have learnt it.

Aristotle

The Nicomachean Ethics

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Topic

Practice Learning Self-improvement

Author

Aristotle

Source

The Nicomachean Ethics

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

322 BC 320s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aristotle. Ἠθικὰ Νικομάχεια, Ēthika Nikomacheia [Nicomachean Ethics]. c. 322 BC.

Current Citation

Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics, translated by Terence Irwin. Hackett Publishing, 2019, bk. 2.

Old to grow, but ever learning.

Solon

Quoted in Plutarch's Lives, by Plutarch

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Topic

Learning Wisdom Aging Old age

Speaker

Solon

Author

Plutarch

Source

Solon Plutarch's Lives

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

119 110s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Plutarch. Βίοι Παράλληλοι [Parallel Lives]. Rome, 1470.

The mind is not a vessel that needs filling, but wood that needs igniting.

Plutarch

Moralia

More information about this quote

Topic

The mind Education Learning

Author

Plutarch

Source

Of Listening Moralia

Medium

Essay

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

Greek

Time

2nd century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Plutarch. "Περὶ τοῦ ἀκούειν [On Hearing]." Ἠθικά Ethika [Moralia]. c. 100 AD.

Current Citation

Plutarch. "On Listening." Essays. Penguin Classics, 1993.

Experience keeps a dear school, yet Fools will learn In no other.

Poor Richard (Benjamin Franklin)

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Topic

Learning from mistakes Mistakes Life experience Learning Fools

Author

Poor Richard (Benjamin Franklin)

Source

Poor Richard's Almanack

Medium

Almanac

Statement Type

Proverbs, aphorisms and adages

Language

English

Time

1743 1740s 18th century

Era

Colonial America

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Franklin, Benjamin [published as Richard Saunders]. Poor Richard's Almanack. Philadelphia, 1743.

Current Citation

Franklin, Benjamin. "Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1743." Benjamin Franklin: Autobiography, Poor Richard, and Later Writings, edited by J. A. Leo Lemay. Library of America, 2005.

Learning is an ornament in prosperity, and a refuge in adversity.

Aristotle

Quoted in The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, by Diogenes Laërtius

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Topic

Value of education Education Learning

Speaker

Aristotle

Author

Diogenes Laërtius

Source

The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers

Genre

Biography Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

3rd century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aristotle. Quoted in Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laertius. c. 240 AD, bk. 5, ch. 1, sect. 19.

Current Citation

Aristotle. Quoted in The Lives of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laërtius, translated by Pamela Mensch, edited by James Miller. Oxford University Press, 2018, bk. 5, ch. 1, sect. 19.

For it is impossible for any one to begin to learn what he thinks that he already knows.

Epictetus

Discourses

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Topic

Lack of curiosity Learning Arrogance

Author

Epictetus

Source

Discourses

Medium

Lecture

Language

Greek

Time

108 100s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Epictetus. Ἐπικτήτου διατριβαί, Epiktētou diatribai [The Discourses of Epictetus]. c. 108, bk 2, ch 17.

Current Citation

Epictetus. "The Discourses." Discourses and Other Writings, edited and translated by Robert Dobbin. Penguin Classics, 2008, bk. 2, ch. 17.

Let us now suppose that in the mind of each man there is an aviary of all sorts of birds-some flocking together apart from the rest, others in small groups, others solitary, flying anywhere and everywhere... We may suppose that the birds are kinds of knowledge, and that when we were children, the receptacle was empty; whenever a man has gotten and detained in the enclosure a kind of knowledge, he may be said to have learned or discovered the thing which is the subject of the knowledge: and this is to know.

Socrates

Quoted in Theaetetus, by Plato

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Topic

Epistemology Nature of knowledge Knowledge Learning

Speaker

Socrates

Author

Plato

Source

Theaetetus

Medium

Philosophical dialogue Dialogue

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

Greek

Time

369 BC 360s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Θεαίτητος [Theaetetus], written by Plato. c. 369 BC.

Current Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Theaetetus, written by Plato, translated by John McDowell. Oxford University Press, 2014.

All wish to be learned, but no one is willing to pay the price.

Juvenal

Satires

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Topic

Hard work Sacrifice Learning Education

Author

Juvenal

Source

Satires

Medium

Poem

Genre

Satire

Language

Latin

Time

100 100s 1st century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

Juvenal. Satirae [Satires]. c. 127, satire 7.

Current Citation

Juvenal. The Satires, translated by Niall Rudd. Oxford University Press, 2008, satire 7.

There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm.

Willa Cather

The Song of the Lark

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Topic

Life lessons Learning Adversity

Speaker

Thea

Author

Willa Cather

Source

The Song of the Lark

Medium

Novel

Language

English

Time

1915 1910s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Cather, Willa. The Song of the Lark. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1915, pt. 4, ch. 8.

Current Citation

Cather, Willa. The Song of the Lark. Vintage, 1999, pt. 4, ch. 8.

A learning experience is one of those things that says, "You know that thing you just did? Don't do that.”

Douglas Adams

The Salmon of Doubt

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Topic

School of hard knocks Learning from mistakes Learning Life lessons

Author

Douglas Adams

Source

The Salmon of Doubt

Medium

Novel

Genre

Science fiction

Language

English

Time

2001 2000s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Adams, Douglas. "Interview: Douglas Adams." Interviewed by Brendan Buhler. Artsweek. University of California Santa Barbara Daily Nexus, 5 Apr. 2001.

Current Citation

Adams, Douglas. The Salmon of Doubt. William Heinemann Ltd./Pocket Books, 2002, ch. 11.

Learning does not consist only of knowing what we must or we can do, but also of knowing what we could do and perhaps should not do.

Umberto Eco

The Name of the Rose

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Topic

Learning Wisdom

Speaker

William

Author

Umberto Eco

Source

The Name of the Rose

Medium

Novel

Language

Italian

Time

1980 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Eco, Umberto. Il nome della rosa [The Name of the Rose]. Bompiani, 1980.

Current Citation

Eco, Humberto. The Name of the Rose, translated by William Weaver. HarperVia, 2014.

The knowledge of the world is only to be acquired in the world, and not in a closet.

Lord Chesterfield

More information about this quote

Topic

Learning

Author

Lord Chesterfield

Source

Letters of Lord Chesterfield

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1746 1740s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Stanhope, Philip Dormer. Letter to his son. 4 Oct. 1746.

We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it—and stop there; lest we be like the cat that sits down on a hot stove-lid. She will never sit down on a hot stove-lid again—and that is well; but also she will never sit down on a cold one any more.

Mark Twain

Following the Equator: A Journey Around the World

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Topic

Learning from experience Learning

Author

Mark Twain

Source

Following the Equator: A Journey Around the World

Genre

Travel writing

Language

English

Time

1897 1890s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Twain, Mark. Following the Equator: A Journey Around the World. Hartford: American Publishing Company, 1897, ch. 11.

Current Citation

Twain, Mark. "Following the Equator." Mark Twain: A Tramp Abroad, Following the Equator, Other Travels, edited by Roy Blount Jr. Library of America, 2010, ch. 11.

Of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

Ecclesiastes 12:12

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Topic

Information overload Education Learning Books

Source

Ecclesiastes The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Hebrew

Time

931 BC 930s BC 10th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Ecclesiastes 12:12).

I am slow of study.

William Shakespeare

A Midsummer Night's Dream

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Topic

Learning

Speaker

Snug

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1599 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. A Midsummer Night's Dream. The Lord Chamberlain's Men, c. 1599, The Theatre, London, England, UK, act 1, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 1, sc. 2.

And seek for truth in the groves of Academe.

Horace

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Topic

Seeking the truth Truth Learning Education

Author

Horace

Source

Epistles 2

Medium

Letter

Statement Type

Advice

Language

Latin

Time

14 BC 10s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Horace. Epistularum liber secundus [Second Book of Letters]. 14 BC, bk. 2, epistle 2.

Current Citation

Horace. "Epistles." Satires and Epistles, translated by John Davie. Oxford University Press, 2011, bk. 2, epistle 2.

Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.

B.F. Skinner

More information about this quote

Topic

Education Learning

Author

B.F. Skinner

Source

New Methods and New Aims in Teaching New Scientist

Medium

Magazine

Language

English

Time

1964 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Skinner, B. F. "New Methods and New Aims in Teaching." New Scientist, 21 May 1964.

Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.

Proverbs 4:13

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Topic

Value of education Education Learning

Source

Proverbs The Bible

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Hebrew

Time

686 BC 680s BC 7th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Holy Bible, New International Version. International Bible Society, 1978. (Proverbs 4:13).

What is the first business of one who practices philosophy? To get rid of self-conceit. For it is impossible for anyone to begin to learn that which he thinks he already knows.

Epictetus

Discourses

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Topic

Intellectual humility Certainty Obstacles to learning Learning

Author

Epictetus

Source

Discourses

Medium

Lecture

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

108 100s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Epictetus. Ἐπικτήτου διατριβαί, Epiktētou diatribai [The Discourses of Epictetus]. c. 108, bk. 2, ch. 17.

Current Citation

Epictetus. "The Discourses." Discourses and Other Writings, edited and translated by Robert Dobbin. Penguin Classics, 2008, bk. 2, ch. 17.

The mind is like a muscle, okay, and if you want it to be really powerful, you got to work it out. Ok? Each new fact gives you another choice. Each new idea builds another muscle, okay, and it’s those muscles that are going to make you really strong. Those are your weapons and in this unsafe world, I want to arm you...Look, okay, if at the end of the term, you’re not faster, stronger, and smarter, you will have lost nothing. But if you are, you’ll be that much tougher to knock down.

Dangerous Minds

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Topic

Knowledge is power Knowledge Learning

Speaker

Louanne Johnson

Actor

Michelle Pfeiffer

Source

Dangerous Minds

Medium

Film

Genre

Drama (film) Teen (film) Drama Teen

Language

English

Time

1995 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Dangerous Minds. Directed by John N. Smith, Hollywood Pictures, 1995.