What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.
George Bernard ShawRead
Men are wise in proportion, not to their experience, but to their capacity for experience.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Wisdom comes from the ability to learn from experiences rather than simply the number of experiences one has.
George Bernard Shaw suggests that it is not merely the accumulation of experiences that makes someone wise; rather, it is one's ability to understand and reflect upon those experiences that contributes to true wisdom. This implies that wisdom is more about depth of understanding than breadth of experiences.
Themes
WisdomExperienceUnderstandingLearningKnowledge
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about personal growth, one might use this quote to emphasize the importance of reflection on experiences.
More from George Bernard Shaw
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Forgive him, for he believes that the customs of his tribe are the laws of nature!
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Those who talk most about the blessings of marriage and the constancy of its vows are the very people who declare that if the chain were broken and the prisoners left free to choose, the whole social fabric would fly asunder. You cannot have the argument both ways. If the prisoner is happy, why lock him in? If he is not, why pretend that he is?
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Treat a friend as a person who may someday become your enemy; an enemy as a person who may someday become your friend.
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The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.
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