--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Knowledge will not be taken away from…" description: "\"“Knowledge will not be taken away from mankind, but scholars will disappear. When no scholar remains, stupid men will be put in command. They will go a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/franz-rosenthal-10507_scholars_knowledge-will-not-be-taken-away-from-ma_2257168.jpg" --- # Knowledge will not be taken away from mankind, but… ![“Knowledge will not be taken away from mankind, but scholars will disappear. When no scholar remains, stupid men will be put in command. They will go astray themselves as well as lead others astray.” quote by Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/franz-rosenthal-10507_scholars_knowledge-will-not-be-taken-away-from-ma_2257168.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/franz-rosenthal-10507_scholars_knowledge-will-not-be-taken-away-from-ma_2257168.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/franz-rosenthal-10507_scholars_knowledge-will-not-be-taken-away-from-ma_2257168.jpg) > ““Knowledge will not be taken away from mankind, but scholars will disappear. When no scholar remains, stupid men will be put in command. They will go astray themselves as well as lead others astray.”” [Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When scholars vanish, ignorance leads, causing incompetent leaders to arise. **In simple terms:** Loss of scholars leads to foolish leadership. Key Takeaway Preserve scholarly knowledge. Themes knowledge leadership ignorance education Mood concerned serious warning Type political educational When to use this quote - political leadership - academic preservation - public policy Key Concepts intellectual decay political instability Questions to Reflect On - How can societies protect intellectuals? - What safeguards prevent ignorant rule? A Different Perspective Scholars alone cannot guarantee good governance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Scholars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholars/) ## Related quotes > [“The knowledge scholars possess causes them to act. Eventually, they will be sought after by the people, but as true scholars, they will flee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/the-knowledge-scholars-possess-causes-them-to-act-eventually-they/) [Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/) > [“At the end of time, there will be scholars who will not practice what they preach. They will preach abstention from this world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/at-the-end-of-time-there-will-be-scholars-who-will-not-practice-what/) [Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/) > [“Al-Askarî gives examples of the high esteem shown to scholars and the important position in society they occupy, often in spite of their lowly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/al-askar-gives-examples-of-the-high-esteem-shown-to-scholars-and-the/) [Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/) > [No wise man is ever interested in stupid matters like wars! Wars are always on the agenda of only stupid man!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/no-wise-man-is-ever-interested-in-stupid-matters-like-wars-wars-are/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Stupid men are the only ones worth knowing after all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/stupid-men-are-the-only-ones-worth-knowing-after-all/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Whoever takes the decision of war, he is surely a stupid man!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/whoever-takes-the-decision-of-war-he-is-surely-a-stupid-man/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I'm before him on my knees, and he kisses me He assumes I lose my reason and I do. Men are stupid, men are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-m-before-him-on-my-knees-and-he-kisses-me-he-assumes-i-lose-my/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [A clever man can see the world from a cave much better than a stupid man can from the top of a mountain!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/a-clever-man-can-see-the-world-from-a-cave-much-better-than-a-stupid/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Great architecture has only two natural enemies: water and stupid men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nickel/great-architecture-has-only-two-natural-enemies-water-and-stupid-men/) Richard Nickel > [“Morrell, ever a true comrade, too had a splendid brain. In fact, and I who am about to die have the right to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/morrell-ever-a-true-comrade-too-had-a-splendid-brain-in-fact-and-i/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Only stupid men trying to seem smart need to be with dumb women. Only weak men trying to look strong are attracted to compliant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/only-stupid-men-trying-to-seem-smart-need-to-be-with-dumb-women-only/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“In fact, I couldn't help thinking that despite their height, adults were just plain unbelievably stupid: men were blowing up other men; soldiers were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-busfield/in-fact-i-couldn-t-help-thinking-that-despite-their-height-adults/) [Andrea Busfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-busfield/) > [“Strange, isn't it,' mused Glokta as he watched him struggle for air. 'Big men, small men, thin men, fat men, clever men, stupid men,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/strange-isn-t-it-mused-glokta-as-he-watched-him-struggle-for-air-big/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [She would have kissed him, if she kissed stupid men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/she-would-have-kissed-him-if-she-kissed-stupid-men/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [Stupid men are often capable of things the clever would not dare to contemplate...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/stupid-men-are-often-capable-of-things-the-clever-would-not-dare-to/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More 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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/ash-sh-fi-i-paid-no-attention-to-a-slave-girl-given-to-him-by-friends/) [Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/) > [“A book of the Indians (that is, Kalîlah wa-Dimnah) teaches that a scholar’s knowledge accompanies him and provides for him wherever he goes, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/a-book-of-the-indians-that-is-kal-lah-wa-dimnah-teaches-that-a/) [Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/) > [“Its insistence upon “knowledge” has no doubt made medieval Muslim civi lization one of great scholarly and scientifi c productivity, and through it, Muslim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/its-insistence-upon-knowledge-has-no-doubt-made-medieval-muslim-civi/) [Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/) > [“Their concept of knowledge was eloquently expressed, for instance, by Muâdh b. Jabal (d. 18/639, one of the trusted lieutenants of the Prophet, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/their-concept-of-knowledge-was-eloquently-expressed-for-instance-by/) [Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/) > [“1. “Knowledge is an attribute (sifah) through which ignorance, doubt, or conjecturing is removed from him who is alive.”129”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/1-knowledge-is-an-attribute-sifah-through-which-ignorance-doubt-or/) [Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/) > [“Knowledge,” which for al-Qônawî is never very far from Sufi gnosis, is “an abstract universal reality,” or “a single universal reality.” In contrast to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/knowledge-which-for-al-q-naw-is-never-very-far-from-sufi-gnosis-is-an/) [Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/) > [“Al-Askarî gives examples of the high esteem shown to scholars and the important position in society they occupy, often in spite of their lowly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/al-askar-gives-examples-of-the-high-esteem-shown-to-scholars-and-the/) [Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/) > [“The seekers after knowledge should, of course, not seek worldly knowledge and worldly gain but devote themselves to the denunciation of the world, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/the-seekers-after-knowledge-should-of-course-not-seek-worldly/) [Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/) > [“A man remains knowing as long as he searches for knowledge and continues to study. When he thinks he knows, he has become ignorant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/a-man-remains-knowing-as-long-as-he-searches-for-knowledge-and/) [Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/) > [“The intellect itself was unable to state who God was, until God anointed its eyes with the light of divine uniqueness, for, as al-Kalâbâdhî…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/the-intellect-itself-was-unable-to-state-who-god-was-until-god/) [Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/) > [“In Arabic linguistic usage, we are told, the interpretation of “water” as knowledge is confirmed by the common fi gure of speech that calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/in-arabic-linguistic-usage-we-are-told-the-interpretation-of-water-as/) [Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/) > [“Knowledge without action is like a bow without a string.” A relationship as close as blood relationship must be established between knowledge and action.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/knowledge-without-action-is-like-a-bow-without-a-string-a/) [Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/) > [“Kings exercise control over people, and scholars exercise control over kings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/kings-exercise-control-over-people-and-scholars-exercise-control-over/) [Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/) > [“Your knowledge belongs to your spirit. Your wealth belongs to your body.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/your-knowledge-belongs-to-your-spirit-your-wealth-belongs-to-your-body/) [Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/) > [“When Jesus was hailed with the words, “Blessed be the womb that bore you,” he retorted, “Blessed be the one whom God taught His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/when-jesus-was-hailed-with-the-words-blessed-be-the-womb-that-bore/) [Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/) [Explore all 65 Franz Rosenthal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/) ## More Scholars quotes > [ “See that the mind is honest, first; the rest may follow or not as God wills. \[That\] the fundamental treason to the mind ...… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/see-that-the-mind-is-honest-first-the-rest-may-follow-or-not-as-god/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [For scholars and laymen alike it is not philosophy but active experience in mathematics itself that can alone answer the question: What is mathematics?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-courant/for-scholars-and-laymen-alike-it-is-not-philosophy-but-active/) [Richard Courant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-courant/) > [“To be knowledgeable, sit before scholars; to be wise, sit before life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/to-be-knowledgeable-sit-before-scholars-to-be-wise-sit-before-life/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [You know I went to the Hunt Schools, a boarding school in Princeton, and I've heard so many Rhodes scholars have gone to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myron-rolle/you-know-i-went-to-the-hunt-schools-a-boarding-school-in-princeton/) [Myron Rolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myron-rolle/) > [My school is attended by near three hundred scholars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lancaster/my-school-is-attended-by-near-three-hundred-scholars/) [Joseph Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lancaster/) > [The figure of Satan and the fires of hell have been demythologized by modern Christian biblical scholars, theologians and philosophers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/the-figure-of-satan-and-the-fires-of-hell-have-been-demythologized-by/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“Stylish scholars, my colleagues told me, express complex ideas clearly and precisely; produce elegant, carefully crafted sentences; convey a sense of energy, intellectual commitment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-sword/stylish-scholars-my-colleagues-told-me-express-complex-ideas-clearly/) [Helen Sword](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-sword/) > [Scholars are wont to sell their birthright for a mess of learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/scholars-are-wont-to-sell-their-birthright-for-a-mess-of-learning/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Many people genuinely do not wish to be saints, and it is possible that some who achieve or aspire to sainthood have never had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/many-people-genuinely-do-not-wish-to-be-saints-and-it-is-possible/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Film is not the art of scholars, but of illiterates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/film-is-not-the-art-of-scholars-but-of-illiterates/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [I do think that I have been fortunate to make friendships with other scholars, and form reading groups where ideas are exchanged and papers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/i-do-think-that-i-have-been-fortunate-to-make-friendships-with-other/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [“Day after day we read about them, each new man more brilliant than the last. They were not just an all-star first team, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-halberstam/day-after-day-we-read-about-them-each-new-man-more-brilliant-than-the/) [David Halberstam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-halberstam/) > [“The truest knowledge is the fear of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-truest-knowledge-is-the-fear-of-god/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In academia, I discovered that issues and insights, commonplace among the scholars, are viewed as highly controversial and even as 'heresy' in the churches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/in-academia-i-discovered-that-issues-and-insights-commonplace-among/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [“Now, scholars can be very useful and necessary, in their own dull and up amusing way. They provide a lot of information. It's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-hoff/now-scholars-can-be-very-useful-and-necessary-in-their-own-dull-and/) [Benjamin Hoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-hoff/) [Browse all 134 Scholars quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholars/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Knowledge will not be taken away from mankind, but scholars will disappear. When no scholar remains, stupid men will be put in command. They will go astray themselves as well as lead others astray.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Franz Rosenthal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/knowledge-will-not-be-taken-away-from-mankind-but-scholars-will/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Scholars" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/knowledge-will-not-be-taken-away-from-mankind-but-scholars-will/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/franz-rosenthal-10507_scholars_knowledge-will-not-be-taken-away-from-ma_2257168.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/franz-rosenthal-10507_scholars_knowledge-will-not-be-taken-away-from-ma_2257168.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/franz-rosenthal-10507_scholars_knowledge-will-not-be-taken-away-from-ma_2257168.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Knowledge will not be taken away from mankind, but scholars will disappear. When no scholar remains, stupid…” — Franz Rosenthal", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Franz Rosenthal", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Knowledge will not be taken away...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/knowledge-will-not-be-taken-away-from-mankind-but-scholars-will/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/knowledge-will-not-be-taken-away-from-mankind-but-scholars-will/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```