Real knowledge, like everything else of value, is not to be obtained easily. It must be worked for, studied for, thought for, and, more that all, must be prayed for.
Thomas ArnoldRead
Real knowledge, like every thing else of the highest value, is not to be obtained so easily. It must be worked for, — studied for, — thought for, — and more than all, it must be prayed for.
Interpretation
Genuine knowledge requires effort, reflection, and a willingness to seek deeper understanding.
This quote emphasizes that the pursuit of true knowledge is not a simple task. It involves diligent study, careful contemplation, and often a spiritual or introspective component, highlighting that achieving profound understanding is a multifaceted process that demands both intellectual and emotional investment.
In practice
In a graduation speech to illustrate the importance of hard work in education.
Real knowledge, like everything else of value, is not to be obtained easily. It must be worked for, studied for, thought for, and, more that all, must be prayed for.
The facilities for advanced education must be evened out and multiplied. No one who can take advantage of a higher education should be denied this chance. You cannot conduct a modern community except with an adequate supply of persons upon whose education, whether humane, technical, or scientific, much time and money have been spent.
If you were a medieval scholar reading a book, you knew that there was a reasonable likelihood you'd never see that particular text again, and so a high premium was placed on remembering what you read. You couldn't just pull a book off the shelf to consult it for a quote or an idea.
Slavery is but half abolished, emancipation is but half completed, while millions of freeman with votes in their hands are left without education.
When I teach writing, I have a mantra: 'Be a first-rate version of yourself, and not a second-rate version of another writer.'
People think of poetry as a school subject... Poetry is very frustrating to students because they don't have a taste for ambiguity, for one thing. That gives them a poetry hangover.
If a man empties his purse into his head, no one can take it from him.
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