Character Quote by Joseph Addison
“Knowledge is that which, next to virtue, truly raises one person above another.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Spectator, 1711
Knowledge, second only to virtue, elevates individuals above others.
In simple terms: Knowledge and virtue together lift people.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate both knowledge and virtue.
Themes
knowledge
virtue
social hierarchy
ethics
education
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- education
- leadership
- ethical decision making
- social mobility
Key Concepts
philosophy
morality
social theory
Questions to Reflect On
- Is knowledge without virtue beneficial?
- How can virtue be measured?
A Different Perspective
Virtue may be harder to attain than knowledge.
![“In its broad sense, civilization means not only comfort in daily necessities but also the refining of knowledge and the cultivation of virtue so as to elevate human life to a higher plane... It refers to the attainment of both material well-being and the elevation of the human spirit, [but] since…” quote by Fukuzawa Yukichi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b23/fukuzawa-yukichi-22233_attainment_in-its-broad-sense-civilization-means-no_1507246.jpg)
