Consequently the student who is devoid of talent will derive no more profit from this work than barren soil from a treatise on agriculture.
QuintilianRead
Our minds are like our stomaches; they are whetted by the change of their food, and variety supplies both with fresh appetite.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Our minds need diversity and change in ideas to stay engaged and eager for knowledge.
Quintilian's quote suggests that just as our stomachs crave different types of food to remain satisfied, our minds thrive on a variety of experiences and thoughts. Engaging with diverse ideas fosters a continuous appetite for learning and growth, highlighting the importance of diversity in intellectual pursuits.
Themes
MindVarietyChangeLearningAppetite
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about lifelong learning.
More from Quintilian
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Whilst we deliberate how to begin a thing, it grows too late to begin it.
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A laugh costs too much when bought at the expense of virtue.
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An evil-speaker differs from an evil-doer only in the want of opportunity.
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It is the nurse that the child first hears, and her words that he will first attempt to imitate.
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