Skip to content

Very few men are wise by their own council, or learned by…

“Very few men are wise by their own council, or learned by their own teaching. For he that was only taught by himself, had a fool for a master.” quote by Ben Jonson
Download Open image
“Very few men are wise by their own council, or learned by their own teaching. For he that was only taught by himself, had a fool for a master.”

Ben Jonson

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Relying solely on self‑instruction leads to folly; wisdom requires external counsel and diverse learning.

In simple terms: Self‑teaching alone makes one foolish; seek guidance.

Key Takeaway

Seek mentors and varied perspectives for wisdom.

Themes

wisdom learning humility advice

Mood

reflective cautious

Type

philosophical advice

When to use this quote

  • academic study
  • career mentorship
  • personal decisions

Key Concepts

education philosophy psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • Who can you learn from beyond yourself?
  • What risks arise from ignoring external advice?
A Different Perspective

Self‑learning can be valuable when balanced with external input.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Ben Jonson

Explore all 249 Ben Jonson quotes

More Council quotes

Browse all 569 Council quotes