Obvious Quote by Hesketh Pearson
“Misquotation is, in fact, the pride and privilege of the learned. A widely- read man never quotes accurately, for the rather obvious reason that he has read too widely.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Intellectuals and Their Books, 1925
Overly broad reading leads to inaccurate quoting, showing that expertise can dilute precision.
In simple terms: Reading too much makes quoting inaccurate.
Key Takeaway
Focus on depth over breadth.
Themes
knowledge
pride
accuracy
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic writing
- public speaking
- research
- teaching
Key Concepts
intellectual humility
citation practices
Questions to Reflect On
- How does breadth affect precision?
- When is it okay to paraphrase?
A Different Perspective
Broad reading can sacrifice detail and reliability.
![“[Misquotation; not by Einstein.] If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker. [Apparently remorseful for his role in the development of the atom bomb.]” quote by Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ae4/albert-einstein-33_atom-bomb_misquotation-not-by-einstein-if-only-i-h_3154195.jpg)
![“[D]on't grow old. With age comes caution, which is another name for cowardice… Whatever else you do in life, don't cultivate a conscience. Without a conscience a man may never be said to grow old. This is an age of very old young men.” quote by Hesketh Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/076/hesketh-pearson-35291_age_d-on-t-grow-old-with-age-comes-caution-w_14010.jpg)
