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About this quote

What does it mean?
It is a tragedy when someone capable of learning remains ignorant.
In plain terms
Wasting someone's ability to learn is a tragedy.
What can you take from it?
Ensure capable people have access to knowledge.

Where it applies

  • education policy
  • personal development
  • mentoring

Putting it to work

  • support education
  • share knowledge
  • mentor others

Questions to consider

  • Who benefits when potential goes unused?

Another view

Capacity does not guarantee desire to learn.

More from Thomas Carlyle

  1. The highest ensign that men ever met and embraced under, the Cross itself, had no meaning save an accidental extrinsic one.

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  2. France was long a despotism tempered by epigrams.

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  3. For is not a Symbol ever, to him who has eyes for it, some dimmer or clearer revelation of the God-like?

    Permalink to quote #52

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