but why should I waste wisdom on a river-turtle?

Summary

This quote suggests that the speaker does not see the point in sharing or bestowing their wisdom upon individuals who are not receptive to learning or do not possess the capacity to understand it. Comparing someone to a river-turtle, which is often considered slow and dull-witted, implies that the speaker believes it is futile to impart wisdom onto this person. It conveys a sense of frustration or resignation towards attempting to enlighten someone who may not appreciate or comprehend the value of such knowledge.

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