You may have heard the phrase, “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” It’s found in Alexander Pope’s poem An Essay on Criticism , composed in 1709.
Who said a little learning is a dangerous thing Drink deep or taste not the Pierian spring?
What Alexander Pope actually wrote in his often-misquoted “Essay on Criticism” (1711) was: A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, And drinking largely sobers us again.
What does the phrase a little learning is a dangerous thing Meaning?
proverb Having a precursory or limited amount of learning about something can make one overestimate how well they will be able to do something much larger in scope or scale .
What did pierian spring mean?
Pierian Spring in American English
noun. Classical Mythology . a fountain in Pieria, sacred to the Muses and supposedly conferring inspiration or learning on anyone who drank from it.
Who said Drink deep or taste not?
As the metaphorical source of knowledge of art and science, it was popularized by a couplet in Alexander Pope’s 1711 poem “An Essay on Criticism”: “A little learning is a dang’rous thing; / Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring.”
What is the word for lack of knowledge?
Frequently Asked Questions About ignorant
Some common synonyms of ignorant are illiterate, unlearned, unlettered, and untutored. While all these words mean “not having knowledge,” ignorant may imply a general condition or it may apply to lack of knowledge or awareness of a particular thing.
What is the meaning of pierian?
1 : of or relating to the region of Pieria in ancient Macedonia or to the Muses who were once worshipped there . 2 : of or relating to learning or poetry.
Why is having little knowledge dangerous?
The idiom a little knowledge is a dangerous thing means that one can become falsely overconfident about his expertise in a certain subject if he possesses a small amount of knowledge about it .
What does a drink deep mean?
drink deep (of) in American English
to take in a large amount (of) by or as by drinking.
What does line 2 mean when it says Drink deep or taste not the Pierian spring?
A quick search on the Internet lends credit to the phrase first being used by Alexander Pope in 1709 in “An Essay on Criticism.” He wrote, “A little learning is a dangerous thing; drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, and drinking largely sobers us again.” The Pierian ...
What does the speaker mean by hills Peep O er hills and Alps on Alps arise?
Hills peep o’er hills, and Alps on Alps arise ! The poem starts with this adage, highlighting that as soon as we start having a little knowledge, it intoxicates us with pride and arrogance . ... The use of this proverb in the first line correctly highlights the main idea of the poem.
Who wrote a little learning?
| First edition cover | Author Evelyn Waugh | Publication date 1964 |
|---|
When did Alexander Pope write a little learning?
You may have heard the phrase, “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” It’s found in Alexander Pope’s poem An Essay on Criticism , composed in 1709 . You may have heard the phrase, “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” It’s found in Alexander Pope’s poem An Essay on Criticism, composed in 1709.
Who wrote a little knowledge?
The ‘little learning’ version is widely attributed to Alexander Pope (1688 – 1744).
What is an uneducated person called?
unschooled, illiterate, ignorant , empty-headed, ignoramus, uncultivated, uncultured, unlearned, unrefined, untaught, benighted, uninstructed, know-nothing, lowbrow, unlettered, unread, untutored.
How do you say you have no knowledge of something?
- ignorant. adjective. not knowing something that you should know or need to know.
- unacquainted. adjective. formal without knowledge of something.
- unknowing. adjective. ...
- unsuspecting. adjective. ...
- unfamiliar. adjective. ...
- uninformed. adjective. ...
- lost. adjective. ...
- hazy. adjective.
