Quotes by famous people, credited to who said them. Your own quotes must not match any of these. More are added all the time. 1,161,747 quotes Who coined it · How we decide
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Knowledge
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“Better to arm a drunken negro than To lavish learning on a wicked man.”
Rumi (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Even from their infancy we frame them to the sports of love: their instruction, behavior, attire, grace, learning and all their words azimuth only at love, respects only affection. Their nurses and their keepers imprint no other thing in them.”
Michel de Montaigne (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We did not yet have laws or order. We were like children just learning to walk.”
Pol Pot (attributed) first seen 1995 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On the Democratic Kampuchea period, as reported by David Ashley (1995) and quoted in David P. Chandler, Brother Number One (1999)
“To those possessed of breeding, learning, handsome looks, Who have no wisdom, neither discipline, you need not bow. But those who do have these two qualities, Though lacking other virtues, you should revere.”
Nagarjuna (attributed) first seen 2013 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to a Friend (Snow Lion: 2013), stanza 28
“We cannot seek or attain health, wealth, learning, justice or kindness in general. Action is always specific, concrete, individualized, unique.”
Benjamin Jowett (misattributed) first seen 2004 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Actually from one of John Dewey's lectures, reprinted in his Reconstruction in Philosophy (2004), p. 96
“A man may go to heaven without health, without riches, without honors, without learning, without friends; but he can never go there without Christ.”
John Dyer (misattributed) first seen 1895 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 88. Based on a quotation by William Dyer: "You may go to Heaven without health, without wealth, without honours, without …
“The great end of learning is nothing else but to seek for the lost mind.”
Mencius (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The king, observing with judicious eyes The state of both his universities, To Oxford sent a troop of horse, and why? That learned body wanted loyalty; To Cambridge books, as very well discerning How much that loyal body wanted learning.”
Joseph Trapp (attributed) first seen 1782 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Epigram "by an Oxonian", sent from Oxford to Cambridge, as quoted in John Nichols's Biographical and Literary Anecdotes (1782), p. 462
“The helm may rust, the laurel bough may fade, Oblivion's grasp may blunt the victor's blade: But that bright holy wreath which learning gives, Untorn by hate, unharm'd by envy lives.”
James Grahame (misattributed) first seen 1834 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: John Graham, "Ode to the Duke of Wellington" (June 1834) collected in A Vision of Fair Spirits, &c. (1834) p. 122. Misattributed to Grahame in Poetical Quotations from Chaucer to Tennyson (1875) p. 296 (under 'Learning')
“Natasha Bedingfield: "I have so much respect for Madonna after learning how hard it is to sing ["Ray of Light"]. She has an amazing voice - the range you need to sing the song is incredible.”
Madonna (entertainer) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“George Clooney: "She's probably everybody's high watermark about learning how to reinvent yourself every few years and continue to stay alive. She without a question the absolute best at that. And she's nice, I like her; she's a friend. She's seems to handle things really well; people can be really tough on you on & off at times and she seems very good at handling it.”
Madonna (entertainer) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“G. B. Stern, in her delightful book Monogram (which for my money, contains about everything a book needs), tells of her rage, about three years ago, at learning that there were no such animals as unicorns.”
Gladys Bronwyn Stern (1890–1973) first seen 1903 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Robert Benchley, After 1903–What? (1938)
“You see, true learning takes energy, passion, a burning desire.”
Robert Kiyosaki (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Copying or emulating heroes is true power learning.”
Robert Kiyosaki (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Titles or awards are not the mark of your success. They are the beginning of a life-long sadhana. Learning should never stop. Discipline of riyaz is a must if you are serious about pursuing an art.”
Shreya Ghoshal (born 1984) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“For where is any author in the world Teaches such beauty as a woman's eye? Learning is but an adjunct to ourself.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) said by 1616 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“The young gentleman, according to Fates and Destinies and such odd sayings, the Sisters Three and such branches of learning, is indeed deceased; or, as you would say in plain terms, gone to heaven.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) said by 1616 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“Men's thoughts are much according to their inclination, their discourse and speeches according to their learning and infused opinions.”
Francis Bacon (1561–1626) said by 1626 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“Enflamed with the study of learning and the admiration of virtue; stirred up with high hopes of living to be brave men and worthy patriots, dear to God, and famous to all ages.”
John Milton (1608–1674) said by 1674 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“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.”
Alexander Pope (1688–1744) said by 1744 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“How index-learning turns no student pale, Yet holds the eel of science by the tail.”
Alexander Pope (1688–1744) said by 1744 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“Whence is thy learning? Hath thy toil O'er books consum'd the midnight oil?”
John Gay (1685–1732) said by 1732 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“Here the heart May give a useful lesson to the head, And Learning wiser grow without his books.”
William Cowper (1731–1800) said by 1800 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“The love of learning, the sequestered nooks, And all the sweet serenity of books.”
Henry W. Longfellow (1807–1882) said by 1882 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“Wearing all that weight Of learning lightly like a flower.”
Alfred Tennyson (active around 1809) bartlett, Public domain source
“Learning is ever in the freshness of its youth, even for the old.”
Theognis (570–490 BC) said by 490 BC at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“Whoso neglects learning in his youth, loses the past and is dead for the future.”
Euripides (481–407 BC) said by 407 BC at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“Consider that I laboured not for myself only, but for all them that seek learning.”
The Bible (active around 812) bartlett, Public domain source
“a little learning is a dangerous thing”
English proverb wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Education plays an enormous role in social justice and distance learning makes it possible for people for whom it would not otherwise be possible.”
Brenda Gourley first seen 2001 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Natal chief to head OU. Times Higher Education, 20 July 2001.
“Learning to enjoy the simple life of living back home”
Hodan Nalayeh wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“To me Higher Learning was a revealing experience, pushing myself harder and experimenting with new ideas that left me feeling that acting is such a powerful tool.”
Janet Kirina first seen 2011 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Girl on mission. The Standard, 30 December 2011.
“[W]e live in a century in which everything has been said. The challenge today is to learn which statements to deny.”
Charles Hartshorne (1897–2000) said by 2000 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Pythagoras said that this world was like a stage, Whereon many play their parts; the lookers-on, the sage Philosophers are, saith he, whose part is to learn The manners of all nations, and the good from the bad to discern.”
Richard Edwardes (1525–1566) first seen 1564 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Damon and Pythias (written in 1564, published in 1571), lines 348-351.
“Next these, learn’d Jonson, in this list I bring, Who had drunk deep of the Pierian spring.”
Michael Drayton (1563–1631) said by 1631 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“One of the advantages of being over forty is that one begins to learn the difference between knowing and realising.”
Gustav Holst (1874–1934) first seen 1914 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to W G Whittaker, 1914, quoted in Paul Holmes Holst p. 62.
“What can we know, or what can we discern, When error chokes the windows of the mind, The diverse forms of things, how can we learn, That have been ever from our birthday blind?”
John Davies (poet) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Learn this of me, where'er thy lot doth fall, Short lot or not, to be content with all.”
Robert Herrick (poet) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“God is not a limited individual who sits alone up in the clouds on a golden throne. God is pure Consciousness that dwells within everything. Understanding this truth, learn to accept and love everyone equally.”
Mata Amritanandamayi (born 1953) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Tho' the world could turn from you, This, at least, I learn from you: Beauty and Truth, tho' never found, are worthy to be sought, The singer, upward-springing, Is grander than his singing, And tranquil self-sufficing joy illumes the dark of thought. This, at least, you teach me, In a revelation: That gods still snatch, as worthy death, the soul in its aspiration.”
Robert Williams Buchanan (1841–1901) said by 1901 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Only people who die very young learn all they really need to know in kindergarten.”
Wendy Kaminer (born 1949) first seen 1992 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Comment about the title of Robert Fulghum's famous book, in I'm Dysfunctional, You're Dysfunctional : The Recovery Movement and Other Self-Help Fashions (1992), Introduction, p. 7
“Progressive art can assist people to learn not only about the objective forces at work in the society in which they live, but also about the intensely social character of their interior lives. Ultimately, it can propel people toward social emancipation.”
Angela Davis (born 1944) first seen 1995 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: For a People's Culture." Political Affairs, March 1995.
“We must not be squeamish when we learn that a total of 17,000 have been shot. We are now duty bound to hold together, we who are gathered together here figure on Mr. Roosevelt's list of war criminals. I have the honour of being Number One.”
Hans Frank (1900–1946) first seen 1943 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech on the need to exterminate the Poles, January 25, 1943, quoted in "The Trial of the Germans" - Page 439 - by Eugene Davidson - History - 1997
“If you hand a man a lemon and tell him that its sourness lies outside the lemon, he will think you are joking. Yet, with a perfectly straight face, that same man will tell you that his sour life is caused by external events. When will man learn that he is the cause of his own feelings for either happiness or anxiety?”
Vernon Howard (1918–1992) said by 1992 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The misery and suffering that abound everywhere, reveal clearly that you have wantonly rejected the lessons of life. Foolish man! Your repeated, wanton neglect to learn the lessons of centuries has wrecked your boasted civilisation upon the rocks of hatred and greed.”
Swami Sivananda (1887–1963) said by 1963 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“This world is a strange world. We have to learn many lessons. One of the disciples of the Lord Jesus betrayed the Lord. Many obstacles will come to the growing aspirant at every step. We will have to show our strength. (You Cannot Get Away From Evil)”
Swami Sivananda (1887–1963) said by 1963 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Underneath this sable hearse Lies the subject of all verse, Sidney's sister, Pembroke's mother; Death! ere thou hast slain another, Fair and learn'd, and good as she, Time shall throw a dart at thee.”
William Browne (1590–1645) said by 1645 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Epitaph on the Countess of Pembroke", first published with the poems of the countess's son William and Sir Benjamin Rudyerd (1660)
“Learn to read slow, all other graces Will follow in their proper places.”
William Walker (1623–1684) said by 1684 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Art of Reading, reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919). Compare: "Take time enough; all other graces/ Will soon fill up their proper places", John Byrom, Advice to preach slow.
“Hark you shadows that in darkness dwell, Learn to contemn light, Happy, happy they that in hell Feel not the world's despite.”
John Dowland (1563–1626) said by 1626 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The more we learn of the true nature of non-human animals, especially those with complex brains and corresponding complex social behavior, the more ethical concerns are raised regarding their use in the service of man — whether this be in entertainment, as "pets," for food, in research laboratories, or any of the other uses to which we subject them.”
Jane Goodall (1934–2025) first seen 2000 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Through a Window: My Thirty Years with the Chimpanzees of Gombe (2000), p. 245