--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man must always study, but he must not…" description: "\"A man must always study, but he must not always go to school: what a contemptible thing is an old abecedarian!\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/michel-de-montaigne-142_education_a-man-must-always-study-but-he-must-not_2131356.jpg" --- # A man must always study, but he must not always go to… ![“A man must always study, but he must not always go to school: what a contemptible thing is an old abecedarian!” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/michel-de-montaigne-142_education_a-man-must-always-study-but-he-must-not_2131356.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/michel-de-montaigne-142_education_a-man-must-always-study-but-he-must-not_2131356.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/michel-de-montaigne-142_education_a-man-must-always-study-but-he-must-not_2131356.jpg) > “A man must always study, but he must not always go to school: what a contemptible thing is an old abecedarian!” [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Learning is essential, but formal schooling isn’t the only path; rigid education can be limiting. **In simple terms:** Study everywhere, not just school. Key Takeaway Embrace lifelong learning. Themes education philosophy learning tradition individualism Mood contemplative inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career development - personal growth - teaching - self‑education Key Concepts humanism critical thinking self‑directed study Questions to Reflect On - How can you learn outside institutions? - What value does formal education hold today? A Different Perspective Formal schooling may stifle curiosity and adaptability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [An old man at school is a contemptible and ridiculous object.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/an-old-man-at-school-is-a-contemptible-and-ridiculous-object/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [“what I was given to study in school I have forgotten; what I decided to read on my own, I still remember.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/what-i-was-given-to-study-in-school-i-have-forgotten-what-i-decided/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [There (in the Soviet Union) it was a science. In order to be a coach, you had to study in school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabe-polsky/there-in-the-soviet-union-it-was-a-science-in-order-to-be-a-coach-you/) [Gabe Polsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabe-polsky/) > [Until I was eighteen, I did not know that you could study fashion design or art. I really didn't know. I already had my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raf-simons/until-i-was-eighteen-i-did-not-know-that-you-could-study-fashion/) [Raf Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raf-simons/) > [Personally, I feel that it is the most contemptible thing for a politician to seek personal gains from politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/personally-i-feel-that-it-is-the-most-contemptible-thing-for-a/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [I've always been that contemptible thing, a luxury communist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-robinson/i-ve-always-been-that-contemptible-thing-a-luxury-communist/) [Bruce Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-robinson/) > [“The most contemptible thing about dreams is that everyone has them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/the-most-contemptible-thing-about-dreams-is-that-everyone-has-them/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [War seems to me to be a mean, contemptible thing: I would rather be hacked in pieces than take part in such an abominable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/war-seems-to-me-to-be-a-mean-contemptible-thing-i-would-rather-be/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A man may study because his brain is hungry for knowledge, even Bible knowledge. 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Our entire view of the universe depends on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-crick/there-is-no-scientific-study-more-vital-to-man-than-the-study-of-his/) [Francis Crick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-crick/) > [Examples teach us that in military affairs, and all others of a like nature, study is apt to enervate and relax the courage of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/examples-teach-us-that-in-military-affairs-and-all-others-of-a-like/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## More by Michel de Montaigne > [No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-man-is-exempt-from-saying-silly-things-the-mischief-is-to-say-them/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Every one rushes elsewhere and into the future, because no one wants to face one's own inner self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/every-one-rushes-elsewhere-and-into-the-future-because-no-one-wants/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Beauty is the true prerogative of women, and so peculiarly their own, that our sex, though naturally requiring another sort of feature, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/beauty-is-the-true-prerogative-of-women-and-so-peculiarly-their-own/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The height and value of true virtue consists in the facility, utility, and pleasure of its exercise; so far from difficulty, that boys, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-height-and-value-of-true-virtue-consists-in-the-facility-utility/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fie-on-the-eloquence-that-leaves-us-craving-itself-not-things/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The plainest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-plainest-sign-of-wisdom-is-a-continual-cheerfulness-her-state-is/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-corruption-of-the-age-is-made-up-by-the-particular-contribution/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [If people must be talking about me, I would have it to be truthfully and justly. 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