--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even the poor student studies and is…" description: "\"Even the poor student studies and is taught only political economy, while that economy of living which is synonymous with philosophy is not even sincer..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05c/henry-david-thoreau-20_adam_even-the-poor-student-studies-and-is-tau_2663456.jpg" --- # Even the poor student studies and is taught only political… ![“Even the poor student studies and is taught only political economy, while that economy of living which is synonymous with philosophy is not even sincerely professed in our colleges. The consequence is, that while he is reading Adam Smith, Ricardo, and Say, he runs his father in debt irretrievably.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05c/henry-david-thoreau-20_adam_even-the-poor-student-studies-and-is-tau_2663456.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05c/henry-david-thoreau-20_adam_even-the-poor-student-studies-and-is-tau_2663456.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05c/henry-david-thoreau-20_adam_even-the-poor-student-studies-and-is-tau_2663456.jpg) > “Even the poor student studies and is taught only political economy, while that economy of living which is synonymous with philosophy is not even sincerely professed in our colleges. The consequence is, that while he is reading Adam Smith, Ricardo, and Say, he runs his father in debt irretrievably.” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Education focuses on political economy, neglecting philosophy, leading to practical failures. **In simple terms:** Education neglects philosophy, causing failures. Key Takeaway Integrate philosophy into curricula. Themes education philosophy economics Mood thoughtful critical Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - college courses - policy making - personal finance Key Concepts curriculum design critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can curricula balance theory and practice? - What role does philosophy play in economic decisions? A Different Perspective Balancing practical skills with philosophical insight is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adam/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adam-smith/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Debt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debt/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Philosophical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophical/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-economy/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor Student](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-student-1679288/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Sincerely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sincerely/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Studies Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/studies-taught-2447171/) [Study](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Taught Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught-political-676833/) ## Related quotes > [“Which would have advanced the most at the end of a month—the boy who had made his own jackknife from the ore which he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/which-would-have-advanced-the-most-at-the-end-of-a-month-the-boy-who/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [All those who, since Adam Smith, have turned their attention to Political Economy, agree that in reality we do not buy articles of consumption…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/all-those-who-since-adam-smith-have-turned-their-attention-to/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [I did meet Sen. Robert Kennedy, and it taught me something about political charisma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/i-did-meet-sen-robert-kennedy-and-it-taught-me-something-about/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) > [Literature is being taught as though it were only political medicine or political poison-a view that is not only illiberal but illiterate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-menand/literature-is-being-taught-as-though-it-were-only-political-medicine/) [Louis Menand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-menand/) > [I was a trial lawyer. At the same time, I was a teacher. 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If you don't have much money, you have to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-mott-davidson/one-thing-that-improved-my-cooking-skills-was-being-a-poor-student-in/) [Diane Mott Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-mott-davidson/) > [In high school, I was a poor student.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/in-high-school-i-was-a-poor-student/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) > [I was rather a poor student, too easily distracted - did a lot of gazing out of windows, fine for training to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morpurgo/i-was-rather-a-poor-student-too-easily-distracted-did-a-lot-of-gazing/) [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) > [Statesmen and legislators, standing so completely within the institution, never distinctly and nakedly behold it. They speak of moving society, but they have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/statesmen-and-legislators-standing-so-completely-within-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“So thoroughly and sincerely are we compelled to live, reverencing our life, and denying the possibility of change. This is the only way, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/so-thoroughly-and-sincerely-are-we-compelled-to-live-reverencing-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I, on my side, require of every writer, first or last, a simple and sincere account of his own life, and not merely what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-on-my-side-require-of-every-writer-first-or-last-a-simple-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [As in the instances of alchemy, astrology, witchcraft, and other such popular creeds, political economy, has a plausible idea at the root of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/as-in-the-instances-of-alchemy-astrology-witchcraft-and-other-such/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Men say they know many things; But lo! they have taken wings, — The arts and sciences, And a thousand appliances; The wind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-say-they-know-many-things-but-lo-they-have-taken-wings-the-arts/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-traveler-who-looks-at-things-with-an-impartial-eye-may-see-what-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-had-three-chairs-in-my-house-one-for-solitude-two-for-friendship/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-still-youthful-energies-of-the-globe-have-only-to-be-directed-in/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/concord-s-little-arch-does-not-span-all-our-fate-nor-is-what/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The lumberers rarely trouble themselves to put out their fires, such is the dampness of the primitive forest; and this is one cause, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-lumberers-rarely-trouble-themselves-to-put-out-their-fires-such/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that is, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-he-has-obtained-those-things-which-are-necessary-to-life-there/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Explore all 3,376 Henry David Thoreau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More Adam quotes > [Women rule the world. It's not really worth fighting because they know what they're doing. Ask Napoleon. Ask Adam. Ask Richard Burton or Richie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/women-rule-the-world-it-s-not-really-worth-fighting-because-they-know/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) [Daniel K Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-k-judd/) > [“Mary: Some call this "Eve's curse," but I think that is stupid because the real curse of Eve was having to put up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/mary-some-call-this-eve-s-curse-but-i-think-that-is-stupid-because/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Adam Clayton Powell's entire political career has to be looked at in the entire context of the American history and the history of, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/adam-clayton-powell-s-entire-political-career-has-to-be-looked-at-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“Adam could imagine what he looked like: a debauched nerd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-cullinan/adam-could-imagine-what-he-looked-like-a-debauched-nerd/) [Heidi Cullinan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-cullinan/) > [Adam Berenson knows how to compose, organize an ensemble, do musical research, play solo and trio piano, write for musical journals, and enlist others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bley/adam-berenson-knows-how-to-compose-organize-an-ensemble-do-musical/) [Paul Bley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bley/) > [“Finally, someone had seen him. And what had he done? Let her get away. Undermined by his disgusting human anatomy. It had just been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/finally-someone-had-seen-him-and-what-had-he-done-let-her-get-away/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“I’d think there are degrees of greatness,” Adam said. “I don’t think so,” said Samuel. “That would be like saying there is a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-d-think-there-are-degrees-of-greatness-adam-said-i-don-t-think-so/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [An ineffably holy God, who has the utmost abhorrence of sin, was never invented by any of Adam's descendents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/an-ineffably-holy-god-who-has-the-utmost-abhorrence-of-sin-was-never/) [Arthur W. 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For his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/adam-s-lips-are-set-in-a-grime-line-i-can-t-tell-if-he-s-about-to-cry/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [And as regards Adam and Eve we must maintain that before the fall they were virgins in Paradise: but after they sinned, and were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/and-as-regards-adam-and-eve-we-must-maintain-that-before-the-fall/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [Adam became so proud that he wished to become God and died for his pride; the Son of God humbled Himself unto death, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/adam-became-so-proud-that-he-wished-to-become-god-and-died-for-his/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [Oh, Adam was a gardener, and God who made him sees That half a proper gardener's work is done upon his knees, So when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/oh-adam-was-a-gardener-and-god-who-made-him-sees-that-half-a-proper/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [“Barışı elde etmek için çabalayan her adam olağanüstü bir adamdır!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/bar-elde-etmek-i-in-abalayan-her-adam-ola-an-st-bir-adamd-r/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) [Browse all 1,360 Adam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adam/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Even the poor student studies and is taught only political economy, while that economy of living which is synonymous with philosophy is not even sincerely professed in our colleges. 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