Never seem more learned than the people you are with. Wear your learning like a pocket watch and keep it hidden. Do not pull it out to count the hours, but give the time when you are asked.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the importance of humility and discretion while interacting with others. It suggests that one should avoid flaunting their knowledge or appearing intellectually superior to those around them. Instead, the quote encourages individuals to be modest and only share their knowledge when requested. Comparing one's intellect to a pocket watch implies that it should be kept concealed unless called upon - just as a watch is only brought out to tell time, one should only offer their knowledge when the situation calls for it.

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