--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ignorant man is an ox. He grows in…" description: "\"The ignorant man is an ox. He grows in size, not in wisdom.\" — Gautama Buddha" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10b/gautama-buddha-163_grows_the-ignorant-man-is-an-ox-he-grows-in-si_81837.jpg" --- # The ignorant man is an ox. He grows in size, not in wisdom. ![“The ignorant man is an ox. He grows in size, not in wisdom.” quote by Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10b/gautama-buddha-163_grows_the-ignorant-man-is-an-ox-he-grows-in-si_81837.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10b/gautama-buddha-163_grows_the-ignorant-man-is-an-ox-he-grows-in-si_81837.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10b/gautama-buddha-163_grows_the-ignorant-man-is-an-ox-he-grows-in-si_81837.jpg) > “The ignorant man is an ox. He grows in size, not in wisdom.” [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that mere physical or material growth without intellectual or moral development leads to stagnation, likening such a person to a beast that only gets larger. **In simple terms:** Physical growth without wisdom is futile. Key Takeaway Growth must be accompanied by learning. Themes wisdom vs. materialism humility self-improvement knowledge vs. ignorance Mood thoughtful cautious inquisitive Type proverb aphorism When to use this quote - education settings - career advancement - personal health journeys - spiritual practice Key Concepts personal development learning self-awareness Practical Applications - coaching programs - self-help literature Questions to Reflect On - How can I ensure my growth includes learning? - What habits foster both physical and intellectual development? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“A person of little knowledge Grows old as a plough-ox grows old. His fleshes increases; His wisdom does not increase.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-person-of-little-knowledge-grows-old-as-a-plough-ox-grows-old-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [An ignorant man ages like an ox. His flesh may increase, but not his understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/an-ignorant-man-ages-like-an-ox-his-flesh-may-increase-but-not-his/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“Only an ignorant man can see another ignorant as a clever man!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/only-an-ignorant-man-can-see-another-ignorant-as-a-clever-man/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in an argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-impossible-to-defeat-an-ignorant-man-in-an-argument/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Master Michelangelo once said that 'I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.' This is what we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/master-michelangelo-once-said-that-i-saw-the-angel-in-the-marble-and/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [But who is more ignorant? The man who cannot define lightning, or the man who does not respect its awesome power?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/but-who-is-more-ignorant-the-man-who-cannot-define-lightning-or-the/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [The life of an ignorant man is as useless as the tail of a dog which neither covers its rear end, nor protects it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/the-life-of-an-ignorant-man-is-as-useless-as-the-tail-of-a-dog-which/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“You can know a thing to death and be for all purposes completely ignorant of it. A man can know his father, or his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/you-can-know-a-thing-to-death-and-be-for-all-purposes-completely/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [A wise man makes his own decisions,but an ignorant man follows the public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grantland-rice/a-wise-man-makes-his-own-decisions-but-an-ignorant-man-follows-the/) [Grantland Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grantland-rice/) > [Further, there are things of which the mind understands one part, but remains ignorant of the other; and when man is able to comprehend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/further-there-are-things-of-which-the-mind-understands-one-part-but/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [The free man cannot be long an ignorant man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mckinley/the-free-man-cannot-be-long-an-ignorant-man/) [William McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mckinley/) > [Ignorance always makes people create an argument and it is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/ignorance-always-makes-people-create-an-argument-and-it-is-impossible/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [An ignorant man is insignificant and contemptible; nobody cares for his company, and he can just be said to live, and that is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/an-ignorant-man-is-insignificant-and-contemptible-nobody-cares-for/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [It is not science which leads to unbelief but rather ignorance. The ignorant man thinks he understands something provided that he sees it every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-potocki/it-is-not-science-which-leads-to-unbelief-but-rather-ignorance-the/) [Jan Potocki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-potocki/) > [The ignorant man always adores what he cannot understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-lombroso/the-ignorant-man-always-adores-what-he-cannot-understand/) [Cesare Lombroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-lombroso/) ## More by Gautama Buddha > [Before you've seen it, and when you first see it, it is the greatest thing; afterwards, it is ordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/before-you-ve-seen-it-and-when-you-first-see-it-it-is-the-greatest/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the Messiah?" "No," answered Buddha. "Then are you a healer?" "No," Buddha replied. "Then are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-of-his-students-asked-buddha-are-you-the-messiah-no-answered/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Give thanks for what had been given to you, However little. Be pure, never falter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/give-thanks-for-what-had-been-given-to-you-however-little-be-pure/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [For fear of causing terror to living beings, Mahamati, let the Bodhisattva who is disciplining himself to attain compassion, refrain from eating flesh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/for-fear-of-causing-terror-to-living-beings-mahamati-let-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Be lamps unto yourselves. Be refuges unto yourselves. Take yourself no external refuge. Hold fast to the truth as a lamp. Hold fast to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-refuges-unto-yourselves-take-yourself-no/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Speak only the speech that neither torments self nor does harm to others. That speech is truly well spoken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/speak-only-the-speech-that-neither-torments-self-nor-does-harm-to/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Pain is the outcome of sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/pain-is-the-outcome-of-sin/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [It is because I perceive the danger in the practice of mystic wonders, that I loath, abhor, and am ashamed thereof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/it-is-because-i-perceive-the-danger-in-the-practice-of-mystic-wonders/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [If one is the master of oneself, one is the resort one can depend on; therefore, one should control oneself of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-one-is-the-master-of-oneself-one-is-the-resort-one-can-depend-on/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Watch the thought and its ways with care, and let it spring from love born out of concern for all beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/watch-the-thought-and-its-ways-with-care-and-let-it-spring-from-love/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [One is not low because of birth nor does birth make one holy. Deeds alone make one low, deeds alone make one holy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-is-not-low-because-of-birth-nor-does-birth-make-one-holy-deeds/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [He who causes suffering shall suffer. There is no escape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/he-who-causes-suffering-shall-suffer-there-is-no-escape/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [If a person does not harm any living being...and does not kill or cause others to kill - that person is a true spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-a-person-does-not-harm-any-living-being-and-does-not-kill-or-cause/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [The fool says, "These are my sons, this is my land, this is my money." In reality, the fool does not own himself, much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/the-fool-says-these-are-my-sons-this-is-my-land-this-is-my-money-in/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) [Explore all 1,043 Gautama Buddha quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) ## More Grows quotes > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) James T. Conway > [Some minds corrode and grow inactive under the loss of personal liberty; others grow morbid and irritable; but it is the nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/some-minds-corrode-and-grow-inactive-under-the-loss-of-personal/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The teacher is one who makes two ideas grow where only one grew before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-teacher-is-one-who-makes-two-ideas-grow-where-only-one-grew-before/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Every woman I have ever loved has left her print upon me, where I loved some invaluable piece of myself apart from me-so different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/every-woman-i-have-ever-loved-has-left-her-print-upon-me-where-i/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [Their peace and their war Are like wind and storm. War grows from their peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/their-peace-and-their-war-are-like-wind-and-storm-war-grows-from/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I just want to grow spiritually with the Lord,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/i-just-want-to-grow-spiritually-with-the-lord/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [It's a challenge to work a character's arc into a format in which you only have a very limited amount of time to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/it-s-a-challenge-to-work-a-character-s-arc-into-a-format-in-which-you/) [Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Love grows. Lust wastes by Enjoyment, and the Reason is, that one springs from an Union of Souls, and the other from an Union…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/love-grows-lust-wastes-by-enjoyment-and-the-reason-is-that-one/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [I didn't grow up thinking of movies as film, or art, but as movies, something to do on a Saturday afternoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/i-didn-t-grow-up-thinking-of-movies-as-film-or-art-but-as-movies/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [Were you indeed not blinded by the Curse Of Self-exile, that still grows worse and worse, Yourselves would know that, though you see him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farid-al-din-attar/were-you-indeed-not-blinded-by-the-curse-of-self-exile-that-still/) [Farid al-Din Attar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farid-al-din-attar/) Browse all 9,037 Grows quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The ignorant man is an ox. 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