---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Though he had very little Latin beyond…"
description: "\"Though he had very little Latin beyond \"Cave canem,\" he had, as a young dog, devoured Shakespeare (in a tasty leather binding).\" — Dodie Smith"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37a/dodie-smith-1724_binding_though-he-had-very-little-latin-beyond-c_1372236.png"
---

#  Though he had very little Latin beyond "Cave canem," he…

![“Though he had very little Latin beyond &quot;Cave canem,&quot; he had, as a young dog, devoured Shakespeare (in a tasty leather binding).” quote by Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37a/dodie-smith-1724_binding_though-he-had-very-little-latin-beyond-c_1372236.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37a/dodie-smith-1724_binding_though-he-had-very-little-latin-beyond-c_1372236.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37a/dodie-smith-1724_binding_though-he-had-very-little-latin-beyond-c_1372236.png)

> “Though he had very little Latin beyond "Cave canem," he had, as a young dog, devoured Shakespeare (in a tasty leather binding).”

[Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/)

## About This Quote

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

He knew only a Latin phrase but eagerly read Shakespeare as a child, despite a cheap edition.

**In simple terms:** He loved Shakespeare despite limited Latin.

Key Takeaway

Embrace learning beyond formal education.

Themes

education literature self‑directed learning

Mood

inspirational reflective

Type

literary personal growth

When to use this quote

- childhood reading
- self‑education
- literary appreciation

Key Concepts

classical languages reading habits

Questions to Reflect On

- How can informal reading shape expertise?
- What resources aid self‑learning?

A Different Perspective

Limited language skills may hinder deeper comprehension.

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[Caves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caves/) [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [Dog training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog-training/) [Latin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latin/) [Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakespeare/) [Training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training/)

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