A Little Learning is a Dangerous Thing
Alexander Pope, a great
eighteenth century English poet writes, in his An Essay on Criticism:
A little learning is a dangerous
thing;
Drink deep, or taste not Pierian
spring;
There shallow draughts intoxicate
the brain,
And drinking largely sobers us
again.
A little learning is, according
to the great poet, dangerous. The poet refers to the spring in Pieria, which is
in Thessaly of east central Greece. Thessaly was the site of many cultures in
the Yd-rd millennia BC. So in classical literature, the place is regarded as
the seat of the Muses. Pope means to say that if anybody has drunk little from
that spring, he will be intoxicated, and in that condition he may do
irresponsible things, which might be dangerous. The poet is true in his
statement; in practical life we see it corroborated many a time. Another
saying, which means almost the same thing, is that empty vessels make the most
sound. Similarly, a man
with a smattering of knowledge poses as a scholar and
talks haughtily with all people, high and low. We can compare him with a man who has deep knowledge, who has drunk
deep at the fountain of knowledge. A man of deep knowledge is mature, civil in
talks and humble in bearing. Like Newton he considers himself a child only
gathering pebbles on the shore while the vast ocean of knowledge lies beyond. A
great scholar's knowledge is beneficial for mankind. He does something for his
country, which contributes to the welfare of the country. He carries on
research, and does something or invents something, which paves the way for further
development and progress. But a man of little learning does more harm than
good. For example, if a man
acquires a little knowledge of medicine and poses
as a physician he becomes a dangerous quack. He becomes a source Of harm to the
society. Or, if the task of piloting a plane is taken up by a novice, what the
fate of the passengers and crew will be can easily be imagined. He behaves as
Pope says in another context, "Fools rush in where angels fear to
tread," Such a man of little learning is really a danger to people.
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