Knowledge Quote by Franz Rosenthal
““Ash-Shâfi i paid no attention to a slave girl given to him by friends who wants to sleep with him. Abû Hanîfah, asked about the manner in which memorized knowledge can be acquired, exclaimed, “Lamp oil, lamp oil” (al-bizr al-bizr), and a poor student later to become a famous scholar, Abû Hâtim (as-Sijistânî?), being unable to buy lamp oil, used the watchman’s lantern to study at night in the streets. Scholars continue their studies even in the bath. They are so absorbed in their work that they do not notice what is going on around them, that they do not care to waste time on eating, that they do not bother when a hemorrhage occurs during their all-night study. In the last case, a warning note is sounded for the benefi t of the reader: Studying is done for the good of one’s soul (life). If the soul is destroyed, the knowledge acquired is of no use. “Overstepping the right mean in studying may lead to the loss of knowledge.””
About This Quote
Dedication to learning can lead scholars to ignore basic needs, but knowledge must serve the soul; over‑exertion risks losing its value.
In simple terms: Studying obsessively harms self.
Key Takeaway
Balance study with wellbeing.
Themes
education
dedication
balance
spirituality
self‑care
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
didactic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- exam preparation marathons
- research sabbaticals
- intensive language immersion
Key Concepts
mind‑body integration
purposeful learning
Practical Applications
- schedule regular breaks
- align study goals with personal values
Questions to Reflect On
- When does dedication become self‑destruction?
- How can one measure the soul‑benefit of knowledge?
A Different Perspective
Extreme focus can also yield breakthroughs when managed wisely.
![“I never knew any man who had once tasted the sweetness of experimental knowledge, that ever afterward fasted after ye Vapour garlick and onions of phantasmatical seeming philosophy." [William Petty]” quote by Carl Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e5a/carl-zimmer-16331_knowledge_i-never-knew-any-man-who-had-once-tasted_1770.jpg)
