--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we do not plant knowledge when young…" description: "\"If we do not plant knowledge when young, it will give us no shade when we are old.\" — Lord Chesterfield" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/lord-chesterfield-757_giving_if-we-do-not-plant-knowledge-when-young_2103134.jpg" --- # If we do not plant knowledge when young, it will give us… ![“If we do not plant knowledge when young, it will give us no shade when we are old.” quote by Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/lord-chesterfield-757_giving_if-we-do-not-plant-knowledge-when-young_2103134.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/lord-chesterfield-757_giving_if-we-do-not-plant-knowledge-when-young_2103134.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/lord-chesterfield-757_giving_if-we-do-not-plant-knowledge-when-young_2103134.jpg) > “If we do not plant knowledge when young, it will give us no shade when we are old.” [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Neglecting early education leaves one unprepared for later life challenges. **In simple terms:** Early learning protects future self. Key Takeaway Invest in youth education. Themes education future preparation Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - parenting - school curriculum - career development - personal growth Key Concepts lifelong learning knowledge transfer Questions to Reflect On - How can we embed learning early? - What habits ensure lasting knowledge? A Different Perspective Late learning cannot replace early foundations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-young-2681653/) [Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant/) [Plant Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant-knowledge-4211282/) [Self growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-growth/) [Shade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shade/) [Shade Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shade-old-4211281/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) ## Related quotes > [Knowledge is a comfortable and necessary retreat and shelter for us in an advanced age; and if we do not plant it while young,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/knowledge-is-a-comfortable-and-necessary-retreat-and-shelter-for-us/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Children learn to read by being in the presence of books. The love of knowledge comes with reading and grows upon it. and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/children-learn-to-read-by-being-in-the-presence-of-books-the-love-of/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Seeking Knowledge At A Young Age Is Like Engraving On A Stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/seeking-knowledge-at-a-young-age-is-like-engraving-on-a-stone/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [Seeking knowledge at an Young age is like engraving on a stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-of-basra/seeking-knowledge-at-an-young-age-is-like-engraving-on-a-stone/) [Hasan of Basra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-of-basra/) > [“I didn’t value experience as much as character, creativity, and common sense, which I suppose was related to my having started Bridgewater two years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/i-didn-t-value-experience-as-much-as-character-creativity-and-common/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [Those of us who have the duty of training the rising generation of doctors...must not inseminate the virgin minds of the young with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-robert-hutchison-1st-baronet/those-of-us-who-have-the-duty-of-training-the-rising-generation-of/) [Sir Robert Hutchison, 1st Baronet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-robert-hutchison-1st-baronet/) > [If you have an hour, will you not improve that hour, instead of idling it away?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/if-you-have-an-hour-will-you-not-improve-that-hour-instead-of-idling/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [A learned parson, rusting in his cell at Oxford or Cambridge, will reason admirably well upon the nature of man; will profoundly analyze the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/a-learned-parson-rusting-in-his-cell-at-oxford-or-cambridge-will/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Our moral faculties must be placed highest, else they can no more flourish than could a plant growing under the shade and drip of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/our-moral-faculties-must-be-placed-highest-else-they-can-no-more/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [You need to understand something, you drink deeply from wells of freedom and liberty and opportunity that you did not dig. You eat lavishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/you-need-to-understand-something-you-drink-deeply-from-wells-of/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [“The cactus thrives in the desert while the fern thrives in the wetland. The fool will try to plant them in the same flowerbox.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/the-cactus-thrives-in-the-desert-while-the-fern-thrives-in-the/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [“Empower Yourself, Empower Your Relationships”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-cummins/empower-yourself-empower-your-relationships/) [Pamela Cummins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-cummins/) > [“When you're sorting yourself out, family are not often the ones you can turn to. They represent the place of departure and not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witi-ihimaera/when-you-re-sorting-yourself-out-family-are-not-often-the-ones-you/) [Witi Ihimaera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witi-ihimaera/) > [“Sometimes you have to realise that things will never change if you don’t make a change yourself, and sometimes, you need to realise that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-eriksson/sometimes-you-have-to-realise-that-things-will-never-change-if-you/) [Charlotte Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-eriksson/) > [“To control your life, control your mind. To control your mind, control your breath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/to-control-your-life-control-your-mind-to-control-your-mind-control/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) ## More by Lord Chesterfield > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [No woman ever yet either reasoned or acted long together consequentially; but some little thing, some love, some resentment, somepresent momentary interest, some supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/no-woman-ever-yet-either-reasoned-or-acted-long-together/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [I am in the pitiable situation of feeling all the force of temptation without having the strength to succumb to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/i-am-in-the-pitiable-situation-of-feeling-all-the-force-of-temptation/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Mankind is made up of inconsistencies, and no man acts invariably up to his predominant character. The wisest man sometimes acts weakly, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/mankind-is-made-up-of-inconsistencies-and-no-man-acts-invariably-up/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Compliments of congratulation are always kindly taken, and cost nothing but pen, ink and paper. I consider them as draughts upon good breeding, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/compliments-of-congratulation-are-always-kindly-taken-and-cost/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [The insolent civility of a proud man is, if possible, more shocking than his rudeness could be; because he shows you, by his manner,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/the-insolent-civility-of-a-proud-man-is-if-possible-more-shocking/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“Secret thoughts and an open countenance will take you safely the world over”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/secret-thoughts-and-an-open-countenance-will-take-you-safely-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Virtue and learning, like gold, have their intrinsic value: but if they are not polished, they certainly lose a great deal of their luster:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/virtue-and-learning-like-gold-have-their-intrinsic-value-but-if-they/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Knowledge is a comfortable and necessary retreat and shelter for us in an advanced age; and if we do not plant it while young,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/knowledge-is-a-comfortable-and-necessary-retreat-and-shelter-for-us/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Promptness is the soul of business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/promptness-is-the-soul-of-business/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Style is the dress of thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/style-is-the-dress-of-thoughts/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [It is commonly said that ridicule is the best test of truth; for that it will not stick where it is not just. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/it-is-commonly-said-that-ridicule-is-the-best-test-of-truth-for-that/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [There is hardly any place or any company where you may not gain knowledge, if you please; almost everybody knows some one thing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/there-is-hardly-any-place-or-any-company-where-you-may-not-gain/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Assurance and intrepidity, under the white banner of seeming modesty, clear the way for merit, that would otherwise be discouraged by difficulties...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/assurance-and-intrepidity-under-the-white-banner-of-seeming-modesty/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“Many a man would rather you heard his story than grant his request.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/many-a-man-would-rather-you-heard-his-story-than-grant-his-request/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) [Explore all 378 Lord Chesterfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) ## More Giving quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [You've touched people and known it. You've touched people and never may know it. Either way, you have something to give. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/you-ve-touched-people-and-known-it-you-ve-touched-people-and-never/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) [Riffat Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riffat-hassan/) > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I don't think my relationship with the idea of womanhood is that attached to giving birth... like, I'm fully aware that I'll never give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-don-t-think-my-relationship-with-the-idea-of-womanhood-is-that/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) [Browse all 39,303 Giving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we do not plant knowledge when young, it will give us no shade when we are old.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lord Chesterfield" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/if-we-do-not-plant-knowledge-when-young-it-will-give-us-no-shade-when/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Giving" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/if-we-do-not-plant-knowledge-when-young-it-will-give-us-no-shade-when/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/lord-chesterfield-757_giving_if-we-do-not-plant-knowledge-when-young_2103134.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/lord-chesterfield-757_giving_if-we-do-not-plant-knowledge-when-young_2103134.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/lord-chesterfield-757_giving_if-we-do-not-plant-knowledge-when-young_2103134.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If we do not plant knowledge when young, it will give us no shade when we are old.” — Lord Chesterfield", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Lord Chesterfield", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If we do not plant knowledge...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/if-we-do-not-plant-knowledge-when-young-it-will-give-us-no-shade-when/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/if-we-do-not-plant-knowledge-when-young-it-will-give-us-no-shade-when/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```