The knowledge of an unlearned man is living and luxuriant like a forest, but covered with mosses and lichens and for the most part inaccessible and going to waste; the knowledge of the man of science is like timber collected in yards for public works, which still supports a green sprout here and there, but even this is liable to dry rot.

Summary

This quote highlights the contrast between the knowledge of an uneducated person and that of a scientist. The unlearned individual may possess a vast amount of untapped knowledge, likened to a lush forest covered in moss and lichens. Unfortunately, this knowledge remains largely inaccessible and wasted. On the other hand, the knowledge of a scientist is comparable to timber gathered for public use, still containing some living elements but also susceptible to decay. Essentially, the unlearned person's knowledge holds potential but is undeveloped, while the scientist's knowledge is structured but not impervious to obsolescence.

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