If you wish to appear agreeable in society, you must consent to be taught many things which you already know.
Interpretation
To fit in socially, we often pretend to learn what we already understand.
This quote suggests that in social contexts, individuals often have to suppress their true knowledge and opinions to be seen as agreeable. It highlights the tension between personal authenticity and social conformity, suggesting that to maintain harmony in relationships, one may need to feign ignorance or openness to learning, even about concepts they already comprehend.
In practice
During a group discussion about a familiar topic, one might quote this to reflect on the need for adaptability.
There are many kinds of smiles, each having a distinct character. Some announce goodness and sweetness, others betray sarcasm, bitterness and pride; some soften the countenance by their languishing tenderness, others brighten by their spiritual vivacity.
He who seldom speaks, and with one calm well-timed word can strike dumb the loquacious, is a genius or a hero.
Where pride begins, love ceases.
Who in the same given time can produce more than others has vigor; who can produce more and better, has talents; who can produce what none else can, has genius.
When you doubt between words, use the plainest, the commonest, the most idiomatic. Eschew fine words as you would rouge; love simple ones as you would the native roses on your cheek.
Three days of uninterrupted company in a vehicle will make you better acquainted with another, than one hour's conversation with him every day for three years.
And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We can't return we can only look behind From where we came And go round and round and round In the circle game.
Laugh as much as you choose, but you will not laugh me out of my opinion.
If all sentient beings in the universe disappeared, there would remain a sense in which mathematical objects and theorems would continue to exist even though there would be no one around to write or talk about them. Huge prime numbers would continue to be prime, even if no one had proved them prime.
Each of us must pay for the slightest damage he inflicts upon a universe created for indifference and stagnation, sooner or later, he will regret not having left it intact.
The Dance - it is the rhythm of all that dies in order to live again; it is the eternal rising of the sun.
Esteem must be founded on preference: to hold everyone in high esteem is to esteem nothing.
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