It seems that fighting is a game where everybody is the loser.
Zora Neale HurstonRead
Learning without wisdom is a load of books on a donkey's back.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that knowledge alone is not enough; it must be complemented by wisdom to be truly valuable.
Zora Neale Hurston's quote emphasizes the distinction between mere knowledge and the insight or wisdom necessary to apply that knowledge effectively. Accumulating information without the ability to understand and utilize it in meaningful ways is likened to burdening a donkey with books without ensuring it knows how to read or use the information. Therefore, true learning involves not just gathering facts but also developing the ability to think critically and make informed decisions based on that knowledge.
Themes
LearningWisdomKnowledgeEducationUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
During a graduation speech to emphasize the importance of applying what students have learned.
More from Zora Neale Hurston
All quotes βLack of power and opportunity passes off too often for virtue.
Zora Neale HurstonRead
From barren brown stems to glistening leaf-buds; from the leaf-buds to snowy virginity of bloomβ¦It was like a flute song forgotten in another existence and remembered again. What? How? Why? This singing she heard that had nothing to do with her ears. The rose of the world was breathing out smell. It followed her through all her waking moments and caressed her in her sleep.
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Someone is always at my elbow reminding me that I am the granddaughter of slaves. It fails to register depression with me.
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Don't you realize that the sea is the home of water? All water is off on a journey unless it's in the sea, and it's homesick, and bound to make its way home someday.
Zora Neale HurstonRead
Two things everybody's got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin' fuh theyselves.
Zora Neale HurstonRead
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I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy.
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