Quote by Oscar Wilde

We all take such pains to over-educate ourselves. In the wild struggle for existence, we want to have something that endures, and so we fill our minds with rubbish and facts, in the silly hope of keeping our place. The thoroughly well-informed man - that is the modern ideal. And the mind of the thoroughly well-informed man is a dreadful thing. It is like a bric-a-brac shop, all monsters and dust, with everything priced above its proper value.

We all take such pains to over-educate ourselves. In the wil

Summary

This quote criticizes the rampant obsession with acquiring knowledge without discernment or purpose. The speaker suggests that in our eagerness to appear well-educated and secure our social standing, we fill our minds with useless information and trivial facts. According to the quote, the "thoroughly well-informed man" is not ideal, but rather possesses a mind cluttered with irrelevant knowledge, leading to a distorted perception of value and meaning. The quote highlights the need for a more thoughtful, discerning approach to education and emphasizes the importance of meaningful, valuable knowledge over empty accumulation.

Topics

Education

By Oscar Wilde

Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations

Whoever thinks that he alone has speech, or possesses speech

Whoever thinks that he alone has speech, or possesses speech or mind above others, when unfolded such men are seen to be empty.

Alone

Deep in their roots all flowers keep the light.

Deep in their roots all flowers keep the light.

Theodore Roethke

Flowers

All fixed set patterns are incapable of adaptability or plia

All fixed set patterns are incapable of adaptability or pliability. The truth is outside of all fixed patterns.

Truth

There are flood and drought over the eyes and in the mouth,

There are flood and drought over the eyes and in the mouth, dead water and dead sand contending for the upper hand. The parched eviscerate soil gapes at the vanity of toil, laughs without mirth. This is the death of the earth.

TS (Thomas Stearns) Eliot

Food

I had a lovers quarrel with the world.

I had a lovers quarrel with the world.

Argument & Debate

So long as human beings stay human, death and life are the s

So long as human beings stay human, death and life are the same thing.

Life Death

America's Veterans have served their country with the belief

America's Veterans have served their country with the belief that democracy and freedom are ideals to be upheld around the world.

Freedom

Trust him not with your secrets, who, when left alone in you

Trust him not with your secrets, who, when left alone in your room, turns over your papers.

Johann Kaspar Lavater

Alone

I love playing football, being out on the pitch with a ball,

I love playing football, being out on the pitch with a ball, and I will be a little sad when that ends.

Dennis Bergkamp

Sad

Certainty? In this world nothing is certain but death and ta

Certainty? In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.

Benjamin Franklin

Certainty

Do not wait the time will never be 'just right.' Start where

Do not wait the time will never be 'just right.' Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.

All thoughts, all passions, all delightsWhatever stirs this

All thoughts, all passions, all delightsWhatever stirs this mortal frameAll are but ministers of LoveAnd feed His sacred flame.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Love