“Wit without humanity degenerates into bitterness. Learning without prudence into pedantry.”

—  James Burgh

The Dignity of Human Nature (1754)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Wit without humanity degenerates into bitterness. Learning without prudence into pedantry." by James Burgh?
James Burgh photo
James Burgh 49
British politician 1714–1775

Related quotes

Anthony de Mello photo

“These things will destroy the human race: politics without principle, progress without compassion, wealth without work, learning without silence, religion without fearlessness and worship without awareness.”

Anthony de Mello (1931–1987) Indian writer

Humanity
One Minute Wisdom (1989)
Context: Much advance publicity was made for the address the Master would deliver on The Destruction of the World and a large crowd gathered at the monastery grounds to hear him.
The address was over in less than a minute. All he said was:
"These things will destroy the human race: politics without principle, progress without compassion, wealth without work, learning without silence, religion without fearlessness and worship without awareness."

Letitia Elizabeth Landon photo

“… when was a woman ever witty without being bitter?”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon (1802–1838) English poet and novelist

Heath's book of Beauty, 1833 (1832)

Lewis Carroll photo
Confucius photo

“Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.”

Confucius (-551–-479 BC) Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher

Book II, Chapter XV.
Source: The Analects, Other chapters

Joseph Addison photo
Nassim Nicholas Taleb photo

“Wit seduces by signaling intelligence without nerdiness.”

Source: The Bed of Procrustes: Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms (2010), p. 60

John Ogilby photo

“True Valour best is without Witness shown.”

John Ogilby (1600–1676) Scottish academic

Fab. IX: Of the Lyon and the Mouse
The Fables of Aesop (2nd ed. 1668)

John F. Kennedy photo

“Liberty without Learning is always in peril and Learning without Liberty is always in vain.”

John F. Kennedy (1917–1963) 35th president of the United States of America

1963, Address at Vanderbilt University
Context: The essence of Vanderbilt is still learning, the essence of its outlook is still liberty, and liberty and learning will be and must be the touchstones of Vanderbilt University and of any free university in this country or the world. I say two touchstones, yet they are almost inseparable, inseparable if not indistinguishable, for liberty without learning is always in peril, and learning without liberty is always in vain.

Erich Fromm photo

“To die is poignantly bitter, but the idea of having to die without having lived is unbearable.”

Erich Fromm (1900–1980) German social psychologist and psychoanalyst

Source: Man for Himself (1947), Ch. 4

Richard David Precht photo

“Learning and enjoyment are the secret to a fulfilled life. Learning without enjoyment wears you down, enjoyment without learning dulls you.”

Richard David Precht (1964) German philosopher and author

Quote translated from his German book: Wer bin ich – und wenn ja, wie viele? Eine philosophische Reise, Goldmann, München 2007, ISBN 3-442-31143-8

Related topics