If a little knowledge is dangerous, where is the man who has so much as to be out of danger?
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Huxley suggests that having some knowledge can make one overconfident or prone to error, and questions if anyone has enough knowledge to be completely safe from the dangers of ignorance.
- In plain terms
- Having some knowledge can be risky, and it is unclear if anyone knows enough to be safe.
- What can you take from it?
- Even a small amount of knowledge can lead to false confidence.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When does knowledge become a liability?
- How much is enough to be safe?
Another view
The quote implies total safety through knowledge is impossible, which might discourage learning.
More from Thomas Henry Huxley
The great end of life is not knowledge but action.
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Permalink to quote #20
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