---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The attainment of knowledge is the high…"
description: "\"The attainment of knowledge is the high and exclusive attribute of man, among the numberless myriads of animated beings, inhabitants of the terrestrial..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61c/john-quincy-adams-2098_acquiring-knowledge_the-attainment-of-knowledge-is-the-high_1048257.jpg"
---

#  The attainment of knowledge is the high and exclusive…

![“The attainment of knowledge is the high and exclusive attribute of man, among the numberless myriads of animated beings, inhabitants of the terrestrial globe. On him alone is bestowed, by the bounty of the Creator of the universe, the power and the capacity of acquiring knowledge. Knowledge is the…” quote by John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61c/john-quincy-adams-2098_acquiring-knowledge_the-attainment-of-knowledge-is-the-high_1048257.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61c/john-quincy-adams-2098_acquiring-knowledge_the-attainment-of-knowledge-is-the-high_1048257.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61c/john-quincy-adams-2098_acquiring-knowledge_the-attainment-of-knowledge-is-the-high_1048257.jpg)

> “The attainment of knowledge is the high and exclusive attribute of man, among the numberless myriads of animated beings, inhabitants of the terrestrial globe. On him alone is bestowed, by the bounty of the Creator of the universe, the power and the capacity of acquiring knowledge. Knowledge is the attribute of his nature which at once enables him to improve his condition upon earth, and to prepare him for the enjoyment of a happier existence hereafter.”

[John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Humans uniquely possess the capacity and divine gift to acquire knowledge, which improves earthly life and prepares for a better afterlife.

**In simple terms:** Knowledge is a human gift for growth.

Key Takeaway

Pursue learning for earthly and eternal benefit.

Themes

knowledge human nature divine gift

Mood

thoughtful motivational

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

- education
- personal development
- spiritual preparation

Key Concepts

epistemology theology purpose

Questions to Reflect On

- How does knowledge shape your purpose?
- What responsibilities come with this gift?

A Different Perspective

Potentially assumes afterlife; may not apply universally.

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[Acquiring knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquiring-knowledge/) [Creator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creator/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Hereafter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hereafter/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/)

## Related quotes

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> [It is not my prayer and humility that you cause things to go as you wish, but by acquiring a knowledge of natural laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/it-is-not-my-prayer-and-humility-that-you-cause-things-to-go-as-you/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [Learning isn't acquiring knowledge so much as it is trimming information that has already been acquired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/learning-isn-t-acquiring-knowledge-so-much-as-it-is-trimming/)

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> [Your children should have it impressed upon them that their adult life-style will bear very little resemblance to yours and that they should now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/your-children-should-have-it-impressed-upon-them-that-their-adult/)

[Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/)

> [I'm in the mode of acquiring knowledge and relationships on the business side and it's paramount that you learn as much as you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-dinwiddie/i-m-in-the-mode-of-acquiring-knowledge-and-relationships-on-the/)

[Spencer Dinwiddie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-dinwiddie/)

> [The outlines of the needed psychology of becoming can be discovered by looking within ourselves; for it is knowledge of our own uniqueness that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-outlines-of-the-needed-psychology-of-becoming-can-be-discovered/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Productiveness is your acceptance of morality, your recognition of the fact that you choose to live-that productive work is the process by which man's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/productiveness-is-your-acceptance-of-morality-your-recognition-of-the/)

[Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/)

> [If four things are followed - having a great aim, acquiring knowledge, hard work, and perseverance - then anything can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-p-j-abdul-kalam/if-four-things-are-followed-having-a-great-aim-acquiring-knowledge/)

[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-p-j-abdul-kalam/)

> [I think it is totally wrong and terribly harmful if education is defined as acquiring knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-glasser/i-think-it-is-totally-wrong-and-terribly-harmful-if-education-is/)

[William Glasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-glasser/)

> [Acquiring knowledge is a form of imitation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/acquiring-knowledge-is-a-form-of-imitation/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Science has to be understood in its broadest sense, as a method for apprehending all observable reality, and not merely as an instrument for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-carrel/science-has-to-be-understood-in-its-broadest-sense-as-a-method-for/)

[Alexis Carrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-carrel/)

> [“I only began to enjoy studying after I got through the educational system and became a so-called member of society. If something interested me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-only-began-to-enjoy-studying-after-i-got-through-the-educational/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by John Quincy Adams

> [I do conscientiously and sincerely believe that the Order of Freemasonry, if not the greatest, is one of the greatest moral and political evils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/i-do-conscientiously-and-sincerely-believe-that-the-order-of/)

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> [ ...he \[Muhammad\] declared undistinguishing and exterminating war, as a part of his religion, against all the rest of mankind...The precept of the Koran is,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/he-muhammad-declared-undistinguishing-and-exterminating-war-as-a-part/)

[John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/)

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[John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/)

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[John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/)

> [ The Law given from Sinai \[The Ten Commandments\] was a civil and municipal as well as a moral and religious code. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/the-law-given-from-sinai-the-ten-commandments-was-a-civil-and/)

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[Explore all 186 John Quincy Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/)

## More Acquiring knowledge quotes

> [“I only began to enjoy studying after I got through the educational system and became a so-called member of society. If something interested me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-only-began-to-enjoy-studying-after-i-got-through-the-educational/)

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> [Acquiring knowledge is a form of imitation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/acquiring-knowledge-is-a-form-of-imitation/)

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> [I think it is totally wrong and terribly harmful if education is defined as acquiring knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-glasser/i-think-it-is-totally-wrong-and-terribly-harmful-if-education-is/)

[William Glasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-glasser/)

> [If four things are followed - having a great aim, acquiring knowledge, hard work, and perseverance - then anything can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-p-j-abdul-kalam/if-four-things-are-followed-having-a-great-aim-acquiring-knowledge/)

[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-p-j-abdul-kalam/)

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[Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/)

> [Learning isn't acquiring knowledge so much as it is trimming information that has already been acquired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/learning-isn-t-acquiring-knowledge-so-much-as-it-is-trimming/)

[Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/)

> [It is not my prayer and humility that you cause things to go as you wish, but by acquiring a knowledge of natural laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/it-is-not-my-prayer-and-humility-that-you-cause-things-to-go-as-you/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

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[Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/)

> [Man is essentially ignorant, and becomes learned through acquiring knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-khaldun/man-is-essentially-ignorant-and-becomes-learned-through-acquiring/)

[Ibn Khaldun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-khaldun/)

> [As long as acquiring knowledge is the educational goal of schools, educational opportunities will be limited, as they are now, to affluent families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-glasser/as-long-as-acquiring-knowledge-is-the-educational-goal-of-schools/)

[William Glasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-glasser/)

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[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

[Browse all 43 Acquiring knowledge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquiring-knowledge/)

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