Erik Erikson Quotes

Men are limited by the knowledge of their minds, the worth of their characters and the principles upon which they are building their lives.

Consider your origin; you were not born to live like brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge.

There are more men ennobled by study than by nature.

The natural desire of good men is knowledge.

Wisdom and understanding can only become the possession of individual men by travelling the old road of observation, attention, perseverance, and industry.

This celebration here tells me that this work is not hopeless. I thank you for this teaching with all my heart and lift my glass to human solidarity, to the ultimate victory of knowledge, peace, good-will and understanding.

Vanity of science. Knowledge of physical science will not console me for ignorance of morality in time of affliction, but knowledge of morality will always console me for ignorance of physical science.

Even for charity I always give priority to education because I always teach young people - knowledge is your real companion, your life long companion, not fortune. Fortune can disappear.

Education is the leading of human souls to what is best, and making what is best out of them.

Human dignity is better served by embracing knowledge.

The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.

Thy books should, like thy friends, not many be, yet such wherein men may thy judgment see.

Education is the manifestation of perfection present already in man.

The relief of enemies has a tendency to unite mankind in fraternal affection.

Study without reflection is a waste of time; reflection without study is dangerous.

If we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what books he reads.

Who does not understand should either learn, or be silent.

Books are good but they are only maps. Reading a book by direction of a man I read that so many inches of rain fell during the year. Then he told me to take the book and squeeze it between my hands. I did so and not a drop of water came from it. It was the idea only that the book conveyed. So we can get good from books, from the temple, from the church, from anything, so long as it leads us onward and upward.

We live and learn, or, perhaps more importantly we learn and live.

Guidance is not attained except with knowledge and correct direction is not attained except with patience.

Wise people learn when they can; fools learn when they must.

Knowledge itself is a neutral tool that can be used for good or evil. Wisdom, in contrast, always directs us toward happiness. The task of education must be to stimulate and unleash the wisdom that lies dormant in the lives of all young people. This is not a forced process, like pressing something into a preformed mold, but rather drawing out the potential which exists within.

Though an inheritance of acres may be bequeathed, an inheritance of knowledge and wisdom cannot. The wealthy man may pay others for doing his work for him; but it is impossible to get his thinking done for him by another, or to purchase any kind of self-culture.

None of us was born knowing or wise; but men become wise by consideration, observation, experience.

Everybody’s gotta learn, nobody’s born knowing.