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About this quote

What does it mean?
True knowledge comes from active mental effort, not just passive reception of outside ideas.
In plain terms
Knowledge requires active thinking, not just receiving info.
What can you take from it?
Engage your mind actively to gain real understanding.

Where it applies

  • education
  • learning
  • thinking

Putting it to work

  • ask questions
  • reflect deeply
  • practice reasoning

Questions to consider

  • How do you actively engage with what you learn?
  • Is knowledge passive or active?

Another view

External sources still provide necessary data for internal processing.

More from Ralph Cudworth

  1. The true knowledge or science which exists nowhere but in the mind itself, has no other entity at all besides intelligibility; and therefore whatsoever is clea…

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  2. Truth is the most unbending and uncompliable, the most necessary, firm, immutable, and adamantine thing in the world.

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  3. If intellection and knowledge were mere passion from without, or the bare reception of extraneous and adventitious forms, then no reason could be given at all …

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