--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Learning is a good medicine: but no…" description: "\"Learning is a good medicine: but no medicine is powerful enough to preserve itself from taint and corruption independently of defects in the jar that i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/michel-de-montaigne-142_corruption_learning-is-a-good-medicine-but-no-medic_1417346.jpg" --- # Learning is a good medicine: but no medicine is powerful… ![“Learning is a good medicine: but no medicine is powerful enough to preserve itself from taint and corruption independently of defects in the jar that it is kept in. One man sees clearly but does not see straight: consequently he sees what is good but fails to follow it; he sees knowledge and does…” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/michel-de-montaigne-142_corruption_learning-is-a-good-medicine-but-no-medic_1417346.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/michel-de-montaigne-142_corruption_learning-is-a-good-medicine-but-no-medic_1417346.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/michel-de-montaigne-142_corruption_learning-is-a-good-medicine-but-no-medic_1417346.jpg) > “Learning is a good medicine: but no medicine is powerful enough to preserve itself from taint and corruption independently of defects in the jar that it is kept in. One man sees clearly but does not see straight: consequently he sees what is good but fails to follow it; he sees knowledge and does not use it.” [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. Knowledge and virtue are useless if the environment corrupts them; external flaws undermine internal goodness. **In simple terms:** Goodness can be spoiled by a bad container. Key Takeaway Guard the context in which ideas reside. Themes ethics knowledge corruption environment Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical advisory When to use this quote - education - leadership - personal development - organizational culture Key Concepts philosophy human nature integrity Questions to Reflect On - How do you protect your ideas from a corrupt environment? - What safeguards can you create for your values? A Different Perspective Even pure knowledge can be misapplied if the surrounding conditions are flawed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Defects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defects/) [Educational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educational/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Words of wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-of-wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Love is the strongest medicine. It is more powerful than electricity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neem-karoli-baba/love-is-the-strongest-medicine-it-is-more-powerful-than-electricity/) [Neem Karoli Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neem-karoli-baba/) > [“We know that food is a medicine, perhaps the most powerful drug on the planet with the power to cause or cure most diseases.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hyman/we-know-that-food-is-a-medicine-perhaps-the-most-powerful-drug-on-the/) [Mark Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman/) > [“My own experience has been that there is no field where one who is in earnest about learning to do good work can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-brande/my-own-experience-has-been-that-there-is-no-field-where-one-who-is-in/) [Dorothea Brande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-brande/) > [Every home is a house of learning either for good or otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/every-home-is-a-house-of-learning-either-for-good-or-otherwise/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [“Everyone is pretty good at learning. Very few are good at doing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/everyone-is-pretty-good-at-learning-very-few-are-good-at-doing/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [Learning how to be a good parent was easy in the end because I'd basically had the What Not To Do manual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cassidy/learning-how-to-be-a-good-parent-was-easy-in-the-end-because-i-d/) [David Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cassidy/) > [I've studied all my musical life, but learning is only good if you do something constructive with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-williams/i-ve-studied-all-my-musical-life-but-learning-is-only-good-if-you-do/) [Tony Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-williams/) > [Education is learning to grow, learning what to grow toward, learning what is good and bad, learning what is desirable and undesirable, learning what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/education-is-learning-to-grow-learning-what-to-grow-toward-learning/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [Learning is a good thing, but unless it's tempered by faith and a love of freedom, it can be very dangerous indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/learning-is-a-good-thing-but-unless-it-s-tempered-by-faith-and-a-love/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [“Neither living nor learning was good without order.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/neither-living-nor-learning-was-good-without-order/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Learning is good in and of itself...the mothers of the Jewish ghettoes of the east would pour honey on a book so the children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/learning-is-good-in-and-of-itself-the-mothers-of-the-jewish-ghettoes/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [When I cook, I generally stick with what I know, what I'm comfortable with, and what I feel I've paid my dues learning, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/when-i-cook-i-generally-stick-with-what-i-know-what-i-m-comfortable/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [“capitalization learning”: we get good at something by building on the strengths that we are naturally given.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/capitalization-learning-we-get-good-at-something-by-building-on-the/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [All are agreed, that the increase of learning and good morals are great blessings to society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lancaster/all-are-agreed-that-the-increase-of-learning-and-good-morals-are/) [Joseph Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lancaster/) > [Learning how to be a good reader is what makes you a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/learning-how-to-be-a-good-reader-is-what-makes-you-a-writer/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) ## 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. I would willingly return from the next world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/if-people-must-be-talking-about-me-i-would-have-it-to-be-truthfully/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Most pleasures embrace us but to strangle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/most-pleasures-embrace-us-but-to-strangle/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [In true friendship, in which I am expert, I give myself to my friend more than I draw him to me. I not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/in-true-friendship-in-which-i-am-expert-i-give-myself-to-my-friend/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There are as many and innumerable degrees of wit, as there are cubits between this and heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-are-as-many-and-innumerable-degrees-of-wit-as-there-are-cubits/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [A man has need of tough ears to hear himself fairly judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/a-man-has-need-of-tough-ears-to-hear-himself-fairly-judged/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Lucius Arruntius killed himself, he said, to escape both the future and the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/lucius-arruntius-killed-himself-he-said-to-escape-both-the-future-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I have a vocabulary all my own. I pass the time when itis wet and disagreeable. Whenit is fine I do not wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-have-a-vocabulary-all-my-own-i-pass-the-time-when-itis-wet-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) [Explore all 1,131 Michel de Montaigne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## More Corruption quotes > [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-could-form-a-government-of-national-unity-fighting-corruption-the/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [In the lead up to the Iraq war and its later conduct, I saw at a minimum, true dereliction, negligence and irresponsibility, at worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-zinni/in-the-lead-up-to-the-iraq-war-and-its-later-conduct-i-saw-at-a/) [Anthony Zinni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-zinni/) > [“Don't let cycles of violent crimes, uncontrollable, rising cases of bloody impunity, evil puppets in a crippled judiciary, marionettes in a corrupted legislative system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelica-hopes/don-t-let-cycles-of-violent-crimes-uncontrollable-rising-cases-of/) [Angelica Hopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelica-hopes/) > [What greater weakness can there be than not to know what is the source of one's being, of one's life, of one's senses, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/what-greater-weakness-can-there-be-than-not-to-know-what-is-the/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [As you fight corruption, it fights back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yemi-osinbajo/as-you-fight-corruption-it-fights-back/) [Yemi Osinbajo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yemi-osinbajo/) > [Selfishness is one of the principal fruits of the corruption of human nature; and it is obvious that selfishness disposes us to over-rate our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/selfishness-is-one-of-the-principal-fruits-of-the-corruption-of-human/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [ Corruption could lead to the collapse of the Party \[Communist Party of China\] and the downfall of the state \[People's Republic of China\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xi-jinping/corruption-could-lead-to-the-collapse-of-the-party-communist-party-of/) [Xi Jinping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xi-jinping/) > [“Oh where is the noble face of modesty, or the strength of virtue, now that blasphemy is in power and men have put justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/oh-where-is-the-noble-face-of-modesty-or-the-strength-of-virtue-now/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The victory of Hamas is not only based on the corruption of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas has a vision and a program, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail-haniyeh/the-victory-of-hamas-is-not-only-based-on-the-corruption-of-the/) [Ismail Haniyeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail-haniyeh/) > [It looked incredibly credible!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-horlick/it-looked-incredibly-credible/) Nicola Horlick > [All power corrupts but some must govern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/all-power-corrupts-but-some-must-govern/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) [Browse all 2,253 Corruption quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Learning is a good medicine: but no medicine is powerful enough to preserve itself from taint and corruption independently of defects in the jar that it is kept in. 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