A little learning is a dangerous thing. Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring; There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain; And drinking largely sobers us again.

Summary

This quote by Alexander Pope warns against the dangers of having a superficial or rudimentary understanding of something. It suggests that gaining only a small amount of knowledge can be risky, as it may lead to a false sense of expertise or arrogance. To truly understand, one must thoroughly immerse themselves and "drink deep" from the Pierian spring of knowledge. By embracing extensive learning, one gains clarity and perspective, which helps to avoid false assumptions and illusions of competence.

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