--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The learned man aims for more. But the…" description: "\"The learned man aims for more. But the wise man decreases. And then decreases again.\" — James Altucher" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ece/james-altucher-1597_aim_the-learned-man-aims-for-more-but-the-wi_2824937.png" --- # The learned man aims for more. But the wise man decreases… ![“The learned man aims for more. But the wise man decreases. And then decreases again.” quote by James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ece/james-altucher-1597_aim_the-learned-man-aims-for-more-but-the-wi_2824937.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ece/james-altucher-1597_aim_the-learned-man-aims-for-more-but-the-wi_2824937.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ece/james-altucher-1597_aim_the-learned-man-aims-for-more-but-the-wi_2824937.png) > “The learned man aims for more. But the wise man decreases. And then decreases again.” [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates that continual learning expands knowledge, while wisdom involves simplifying and shedding excess. **In simple terms:** Learning adds, wisdom reduces. Key Takeaway Balance acquisition with reduction. Themes learning wisdom simplicity personal growth Mood thoughtful philosophical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career development - personal decision‑making - life planning Key Concepts knowledge accumulation mindful reduction continuous improvement Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide what to let go? - When is learning enough? A Different Perspective Too much knowledge can overwhelm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-man/) ## Related quotes > [In proportion therefore, as the repulsiveness of the work increases, the wage decreases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/in-proportion-therefore-as-the-repulsiveness-of-the-work-increases/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Caring about what people think of me decreases everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/caring-about-what-people-think-of-me-decreases-everyday/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) > [The quality of life decreases with heightened security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-miller/the-quality-of-life-decreases-with-heightened-security/) [Rebecca Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-miller/) > [Love decreases when it ceases to increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-ren-de-chateaubriand/love-decreases-when-it-ceases-to-increase/) [François-René de Chateaubriand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-ren-de-chateaubriand/) > [Race prejudice decreases values, both real estate and human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/race-prejudice-decreases-values-both-real-estate-and-human/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [More rationale decreases subjectivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-sender/more-rationale-decreases-subjectivity/) [Sol Sender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-sender/) > [The greatest risk to man is not that he aims to high and misses, but that he aims to low and hits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-risk-to-man-is-not-that-he-aims-to-high-and-misses-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The lazy man aims at nothing, and generally hits it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ellis/the-lazy-man-aims-at-nothing-and-generally-hits-it/) [James Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ellis/) > [“the entropy of an isolated system never decreases,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-tegmark/the-entropy-of-an-isolated-system-never-decreases/) [Max Tegmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-tegmark/) > [Happiness never decreases by making others happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happiness-never-decreases-by-making-others-happy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you spend time working on something for a time period, and then it doesn't correlate, it decreases in your motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-ricciardo/when-you-spend-time-working-on-something-for-a-time-period-and-then/) [Daniel Ricciardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-ricciardo/) > [Concentration decreases while the occassion you are preparing for approaches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oluwole-tobi/concentration-decreases-while-the-occassion-you-are-preparing-for/) Oluwole Tobi > [What Obamacare does is decreases choices and drives up cost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/what-obamacare-does-is-decreases-choices-and-drives-up-cost/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [“I have learned that a man who makes trouble for others is also making it for himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-have-learned-that-a-man-who-makes-trouble-for-others-is-also-making/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [In order to master the unruly torrent of life the learned man meditates, the poet quivers, and the political hero erects the fortress of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/in-order-to-master-the-unruly-torrent-of-life-the-learned-man/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) ## More by James Altucher > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [Take control of who you report to, what you do, what you create. Or start a business on the side. Deliver some value, any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/take-control-of-who-you-report-to-what-you-do-what-you-create-or/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“oxytocin is the “god hormone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/oxytocin-is-the-god-hormone/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“How do you get past this?” Diversification is everything. You get past “this” by having lots of “that”s.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/how-do-you-get-past-this-diversification-is-everything-you-get-past/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [The best speakers are the ones who have put 10,000 hours into listening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/the-best-speakers-are-the-ones-who-have-put-10-000-hours-into/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Someone who is reinventing always has spare time. Part of reinvention is collecting little bits and pieces of time and carving them the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/someone-who-is-reinventing-always-has-spare-time-part-of-reinvention/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [America is a country of fighters. People who fought their way in and then continued fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/america-is-a-country-of-fighters-people-who-fought-their-way-in-and/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [I'm scammed almost every day. Or, if not scammed, at the very least someone tries to scam me. Usually more than once a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/i-m-scammed-almost-every-day-or-if-not-scammed-at-the-very-least/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [Honesty is about the scars. It's about the blemishes. But it's more than just bragging about failure, which could be a form of ego.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/honesty-is-about-the-scars-it-s-about-the-blemishes-but-it-s-more/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [Poker is a charismatic game. People who are larger than life play poker and make their living from playing games and hustling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/poker-is-a-charismatic-game-people-who-are-larger-than-life-play/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [Help is a conversation. If one side talks too much, the other side will get bored. So make sure you help back when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/help-is-a-conversation-if-one-side-talks-too-much-the-other-side-will/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Finally, I started to care more about getting better than about winning. I started to study my losses. I would take my losses to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/finally-i-started-to-care-more-about-getting-better-than-about/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“g) Time it takes to reinvent yourself: five years. Here’s a description of the five years: Year One: You’re flailing and reading everything and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/g-time-it-takes-to-reinvent-yourself-five-years-here-s-a-description/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [I can tell you this: Everything in my life that I am happy about it is the product of a huge mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/i-can-tell-you-this-everything-in-my-life-that-i-am-happy-about-it-is/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [Be honest about mistakes. Even if you are afraid of what people think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/be-honest-about-mistakes-even-if-you-are-afraid-of-what-people-think/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) [Explore all 224 James Altucher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The learned man aims for more. But the wise man decreases. 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