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Stupidity: Quotations from Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations

Whence is thy learning? hath thy toil O'er books consumed the midnight oil?— GAY — The Shepherd and the Philosopher.

As turning the logs will make a dull fire burn, so changes of studies a dull brain.— LONGFELLOW — Drift-Wood. Table Talk.

Beholding the bright countenance of truth in the quiet and still air of delightful studies.— MILTON — The Reason of Church Government. Introduction. Bk. II.

Studious of ease, and fond of humble things.— AMBROSE PHILIPS — Epistles from

Holland, to a Friend in England. L. 21. I'll talk a word with this same learned Theban. What is your study?— Shakespeare — King Lear. Act III. Sc. 4. L. 162.

So study evermore is overshot; While it doth study to have what it would It doth forget to do the thing it should, And when it hath the thing it hunteth most, 'Tis won as towns with fire, so won, so lost.— Shakespeare — Love's Labour's Lost. Act I. Sc. 1. L. 143.

Study is like the heaven's glorious sun That will not be deep-searched with saucy looks; Small have continual plodders ever won, Save base authority from others' books.— Shakespeare — Love's Labour's Lost. Act I. Sc. 1. L. 84.

What is the end of study? Let me know? Why, that to know, which else we should not know. Things hid and barr'd, you mean, from common sense? Ay, that is study's god-like recompense. S.— Shakespeare — Love's Labour's Lost. Act I. Sc. 1. L. 55.

The more we study, we the more discover our ignorance.— SHELLEY — Scenes from the Magico Prodigioso of Calderon. Sc. 1.

One of the best methods of rendering study agreeable is to live with able men, and to suffer all those pangs of inferiority which the want of knowledge always inflicts.— U. SYDNEY SMITH — Second Lecture on the

Conduct of the Understanding.

With various readings stored his empty skull, Learn'd without sense, and venerably dull.— CHURCHILL — The Rosciad. L. 591.

The fool of nature stood with stupid eyes And gaping mouth, that testified surprise.— DRYDEN — Cymon and Iphigenia. L. 107.

He is not only dull himself. but the cause of dulness in others.— SAM'L JOHNSON — Boswell's Life of

Johnson. 1783. The bookful blockhead, ignorantly read, With loads of learned lumber in his head.— POPE — Essay on Criticism. L. 612.

Against stupidity the very gods Themselves contend in vain. C.— SCHILLER — The Maid of Orleans. Act III. Sc. 6.

Peter was dull; he was at first Dull,-Oh, so dull-so very dull! Whether he talked, wrote, or rehearsed- Still with this dulness was he cursed- Dull-beyond all conception-dull.— SHELLEY — Peter Bell the Third. Pt. VII. XI.

La faute en est aux dieux, qui la firent si bête. The fault rests with the gods, who have made her so stupid.— GRESSET — Méchant. II. 7.

Schad' um die Leut'! Sind sonst wackre Brüder. Aber das denkt, wie ein Seifensieder. A pity about the people! they are brave enough comrades, but they have heads like a soapboiler's.— SCHILLER — Wallenstein's Lager. XI.