The apple of knowledge is not far from here. As soon as you've eaten it, you'll know as much as I do. But be careful not to make any mistakes: most of the apples hanging from that tree are enveloped in a thick skin. If you taste it, you will be brought low, beneath man; the inner part of the fruit will bring you up to the level of an angel.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The quote uses an apple metaphor to suggest knowledge can elevate or degrade a person depending on how it is consumed.
- In plain terms
- Knowledge is like an apple; eating the right part lifts you, eating the wrong part lowers you.
- What can you take from it?
- How you seek knowledge matters as much as the knowledge itself.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What makes knowledge dangerous?
- How can learning change your status?
Another view
The apple metaphor simplifies complex ethical decisions about learning.
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