--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The roots of knowledge are bitter, but…" description: "\"The roots of knowledge are bitter, but its fruit are sweet.\" — Marcus Tullius Cicero" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e19/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_bitter_the-roots-of-knowledge-are-bitter-but-it_1844076.jpg" --- # The roots of knowledge are bitter, but its fruit are sweet. ![“The roots of knowledge are bitter, but its fruit are sweet.” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e19/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_bitter_the-roots-of-knowledge-are-bitter-but-it_1844076.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e19/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_bitter_the-roots-of-knowledge-are-bitter-but-it_1844076.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e19/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_bitter_the-roots-of-knowledge-are-bitter-but-it_1844076.jpg) > “The roots of knowledge are bitter, but its fruit are sweet.” [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Knowledge can be harsh, but its outcomes are rewarding. **In simple terms:** Hard truths, sweet results. Key Takeaway Accept difficulty for eventual reward. Themes philosophy learning reward Mood thoughtful inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - education - research - personal development Key Concepts epistemology virtue ethics Questions to Reflect On - What bitter lessons have you endured? - How does the sweet result justify the struggle? A Different Perspective The bitter process can deter seekers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitter/) [Bitter Fruit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitter-fruit-1287005/) [Fruit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fruit/) [Fruit Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fruit-sweet-1287007/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Bitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-bitter-2373005/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Roots Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots-knowledge-2373006/) [Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sweet/) ## Related quotes > [“Patience can be bitter but her fruit is always sweet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/habeeb-akande/patience-can-be-bitter-but-her-fruit-is-always-sweet/) [Habeeb Akande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/habeeb-akande/) > [Patience s bitter, but it's fruit is sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/patience-s-bitter-but-it-s-fruit-is-sweet/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/patience-is-bitter-but-its-fruit-is-sweet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-roots-of-education-are-bitter-but-the-fruit-is-sweet/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Patience is a tree whose root is bitter, but its fruit is very sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-morgan/patience-is-a-tree-whose-root-is-bitter-but-its-fruit-is-very-sweet/) [Harriet Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-morgan/) > [Better be jocund with the fruitful Grape Than sadden after none, or bitter, Fruit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/better-be-jocund-with-the-fruitful-grape-than-sadden-after-none-or/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [A forced faithfulness is a bitter fruit for all concerned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-forced-faithfulness-is-a-bitter-fruit-for-all-concerned/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“Sometimes the fruit is sweet, and sometimes it is sour. It is always fruit, and we eat it. So it is with the days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-lindholm/sometimes-the-fruit-is-sweet-and-sometimes-it-is-sour-it-is-always/) [Megan Lindholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-lindholm/) > [“It is not how fast a tree grows, but how well. It is not how big a fruit is, but how sweet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/it-is-not-how-fast-a-tree-grows-but-how-well-it-is-not-how-big-a/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“Alike to the heart When left without attention, Vines bear bitter fruit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-pommarane/alike-to-the-heart-when-left-without-attention-vines-bear-bitter-fruit/) [R.J. Pommarane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-pommarane/) > [ “When you understand that \[in reality\] the bitter fruit \[unfavourable result\] is sweet and the sweet fruit \[favourable result\] is bitter, then you will… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/when-you-understand-that-in-reality-the-bitter-fruit-unfavourable/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Even the most bitter fruit may contain something sweet at it's core.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-dokey/even-the-most-bitter-fruit-may-contain-something-sweet-at-it-s-core/) [Cameron Dokey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-dokey/) > [The grapevine should be named after a more bitter fruit. It should be called the grapefruit tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystos/the-grapevine-should-be-named-after-a-more-bitter-fruit-it-should-be/) [Chrystos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystos/) > [The code of poor laws has at length grown up into a tree, which, like the fabulous Upas, overshadows and poisons the land; unwholesome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/the-code-of-poor-laws-has-at-length-grown-up-into-a-tree-which-like/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [“Love has an extreme capacity to offer everything we need but not without extreme pain. Anyone who tastes the sweet fruit -joy of love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-aswini/love-has-an-extreme-capacity-to-offer-everything-we-need-but-not/) [D. Aswini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-aswini/) ## More by Marcus Tullius Cicero > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. For in invention nature is never last, education never first;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-art-then-imitate-nature-find-what-she-desires-and-follow-as-she/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/gratitude-is-not-only-the-greatest-of-virtues-but-the-parent-of-all/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Things sacred should not only be touched with the hands, but unviolated in thought. \[Lat., Res sacros non modo manibus attingi, sed ne cogitatione…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/things-sacred-should-not-only-be-touched-with-the-hands-but/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Grief is not in the nature of things, but in opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/grief-is-not-in-the-nature-of-things-but-in-opinion/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Physicians, when the cause of disease is discovered, consider that the cure is discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/physicians-when-the-cause-of-disease-is-discovered-consider-that-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum. (Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nihil-est-incertius-vulgo-nihil-obscurius-voluntate-hominum-nihil/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The foundations of justice are that on one shall suffer wrong; then, that the public good be promoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-foundations-of-justice-are-that-on-one-shall-suffer-wrong-then/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“The life of the dead is set in the memory of the living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-life-of-the-dead-is-set-in-the-memory-of-the-living/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Pardon is granted to necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/pardon-is-granted-to-necessity/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Friendship embraces innumerable ends; turn where you will it is ever at your side; no barrier shuts it out; it is never untimely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/friendship-embraces-innumerable-ends-turn-where-you-will-it-is-ever/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [History is the witness of the times, the light of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/history-is-the-witness-of-the-times-the-light-of-truth-the-life-of/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The Jews belong to a dark and repulsive force. One knows how numerous this clique is, how they stick together and what power they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-jews-belong-to-a-dark-and-repulsive-force-one-knows-how-numerous/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nature-has-planted-in-our-minds-an-insatiable-longing-to-see-the-truth/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) [Explore all 1,068 Marcus Tullius Cicero quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## More Bitter quotes > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. The smell of coalsmoke in the air at night. Old times, dead years. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-cooler-days-have-brought-a-wistful-mood-upon-him-the-smell-of/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/from-the-bitter-cold-winter-at-valley-forge-to-the-mountains-of/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Troy was a sweet, good man. We just were never destined to be married. We just didn't have the same values. But I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-pleshette/troy-was-a-sweet-good-man-we-just-were-never-destined-to-be-married/) [Suzanne Pleshette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-pleshette/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [One may have been a fool, but there's no foolishness like being bitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-norris/one-may-have-been-a-fool-but-there-s-no-foolishness-like-being-bitter/) [Kathleen Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-norris/) > [“I doubt taking in a sullen, bitter, teenage girl with more issues than National Geographic is at the center of the vision board for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katja-millay/i-doubt-taking-in-a-sullen-bitter-teenage-girl-with-more-issues-than/) [Katja Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katja-millay/) > [Tireless passion, fierce jealousy, longing to possess and crush-these alone were left of all his love for Rosalind; these remained to him as payment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/tireless-passion-fierce-jealousy-longing-to-possess-and-crush-these/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Life is too bitter already, without territories and wars and noble feuds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-too-bitter-already-without-territories-and-wars-and-noble/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [With every interview you feel like you lose a piece of yourself, and with every bad review you become just that little bit more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-march/with-every-interview-you-feel-like-you-lose-a-piece-of-yourself-and/) [Jane March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-march/) > [“Without the bitter, the sweet ain’t as sweet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/without-the-bitter-the-sweet-ain-t-as-sweet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I refuse to be one of those artists who, 10 years from now, they're bitter about the rise and the fall of their career.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/i-refuse-to-be-one-of-those-artists-who-10-years-from-now-they-re/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [“In these days in which we live, when existence has become a thing of infinite complexity and fate, if it slips us a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/in-these-days-in-which-we-live-when-existence-has-become-a-thing-of/) [P.G. 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