Pride defeats its own end, by bringing the man who seeks esteem and reverence into contempt.
Henry BolingbrokeRead
The shortest and surest way of arriving at real knowledge is to unlearn the lessons we have been taught, to mount the first principles, and take nobody's word about them.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Real knowledge comes from questioning and unlearning accepted lessons.
This quote emphasizes that true understanding and wisdom often require us to let go of preconceived notions and beliefs that we have been taught, and to focus on fundamental principles. By relying on our own discernment rather than accepting information at face value, we can achieve a deeper and more authentic grasp of knowledge.
Themes
KnowledgeUnlearnWisdomPrinciplesEducation
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on philosophy, one might use this quote to encourage students to think critically about what they've been taught.
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