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Education Quote by Oscar Wilde

“We all take such pains to over-educate ourselves. In the wild struggle for existence, we want to have something that endures, and so we fill our minds with rubbish and facts, in the silly hope of keeping our place. The thoroughly well-informed man - that is the modern ideal. And the mind of the…” quote by Oscar Wilde
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““We all take such pains to over-educate ourselves. In the wild struggle for existence, we want to have something that endures, and so we fill our minds with rubbish and facts, in the silly hope of keeping our place. The thoroughly well-informed man - that is the modern ideal. And the mind of the thoroughly well-informed man is a dreadful thing. It is like a bric-a-brac shop, all monsters and dust, with everything priced above its proper value.””

Oscar Wilde

About This Quote

Source Essay: "The Soul of Man under Socialism", 1891

Over‑education fills minds with trivial facts, devaluing true wisdom and leading to a cluttered, unfulfilling intellect.

In simple terms: Excessive facts crowd true insight.

Key Takeaway

Seek depth over sheer knowledge.

Themes

education knowledge wisdom

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

philosophical analytical

When to use this quote

  • academic study
  • self‑learning
  • career development
  • media consumption

Key Concepts

information overload meaning value

Questions to Reflect On

  • What knowledge truly enriches you?
  • How can you filter out trivial information?
A Different Perspective

Depth requires effort; not all knowledge is equally valuable.

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