It is not knowledge, but the act of learning, not possession but the act of getting there, which grants the greatest enjoyment. When I have clarified and exhausted a subject, then I turn away from it, in order to go into darkness again. The never-satisfied man is so strange; if he has completed a structure, then it is not in order to dwell in it peacefully, but in order to begin another. I imagine the world conqueror must feel thus, who, after one kingdom is scarcely conquered, stretches out his arms for others.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Learning, not just knowing, gives joy; after mastering a subject, one seeks new challenges.
- In plain terms
- The joy lies in the process of learning and moving on.
- What can you take from it?
- Never settle; keep pursuing new knowledge.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is it okay to stop learning a topic?
- How does this mindset affect expertise?
Another view
Constantly moving on can prevent deep mastery.
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