Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
The wise are instructed by reason, average minds by experience, the stupid by necessity and the brute by instinct.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Different types of intelligence and understanding come from various sources, ranging from logical reasoning to basic instinct.
This quote by Cicero suggests that people learn and are guided in different ways based on their intellectual capacities. Wise individuals leverage reasoning and critical thinking to gain knowledge, average individuals rely on experience to shape their actions, those who lack intellect are motivated by necessity, and less refined beings follow instincts without deeper understanding. It underscores the diversity of human understanding and the influences that shape our decisions.
Themes
WisdomExperienceReasonLearningInstinct
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the ways in which people gain knowledge and understanding.
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