Giving Quote by Clara Barton
“People should not say that this or that is not worth learning, giving as their reason that it will not be put to use. They can no more know what information they will need in the future than they will know the weather two hundred years from today.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public address on education, 1885
She argues against dismissing knowledge as useless because future utility is unpredictable, urging openness to learning.
In simple terms: Don't dismiss learning because you can't see its future use.
Key Takeaway
Embrace learning without immediate practical justification.
Themes
education
future thinking
open-mindedness
Mood
inspirational
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- school curricula
- career development
- personal growth
- policy making
Key Concepts
uncertainty
long-term value
Questions to Reflect On
- What knowledge might become vital later?
- How can we balance present needs with future possibilities?
A Different Perspective
Predicting future relevance is inherently uncertain, so blanket dismissals are risky.
![“People are saying that they want be convinced [about global warming], perfectly. They want to know the climate science projections with 100 per cent certainty. Well, we know a great deal and even with that there is still uncertainty. But the trend line is very clear. We never have 100 per cent…” quote by Gordon R. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/27d/gordon-r-sullivan-54110_battlefields_people-are-saying-that-they-want-be-conv_2853383.jpg)
