--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And, to say truly, the greatest benefit…" description: "\"“And, to say truly, the greatest benefit that learning bringeth unto men is this: that it teacheth men that be rough and rude of nature, by compass and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/931/plutarch-597_nature_and-to-say-truly-the-greatest-benefit-th_1363662.jpg" --- # And, to say truly, the greatest benefit that learning… ![“And, to say truly, the greatest benefit that learning bringeth unto men is this: that it teacheth men that be rough and rude of nature, by compass and rule of reason, to be civil and courteous, and to like better the mean state than the higher.” quote by Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/931/plutarch-597_nature_and-to-say-truly-the-greatest-benefit-th_1363662.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/931/plutarch-597_nature_and-to-say-truly-the-greatest-benefit-th_1363662.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/931/plutarch-597_nature_and-to-say-truly-the-greatest-benefit-th_1363662.jpg) > ““And, to say truly, the greatest benefit that learning bringeth unto men is this: that it teacheth men that be rough and rude of nature, by compass and rule of reason, to be civil and courteous, and to like better the mean state than the higher.”” [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Learning teaches people to temper natural roughness with reason, leading to civility and a preference for modest living over excess. **In simple terms:** Education refines nature, promoting civility and modesty. Key Takeaway Cultivate reason to temper impulses. Themes education virtue moderation civilization Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical didactic When to use this quote - school curricula - parental guidance - public policy - personal reflection Key Concepts philosophy ethics social development self‑control Questions to Reflect On - How does education shape moral character? - Can reason replace innate impulses? A Different Perspective Reason alone may not change ingrained habits without supportive environments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Benefit Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benefit-learning-667416/) [Civil Courteous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-courteous-4675137/) [Greatest Benefit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-benefit-638449/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Learning Bringeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning-bringeth-4675136/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [There is no one who cannot derive great help and great benefit from learning; but there are also only a few people who do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/there-is-no-one-who-cannot-derive-great-help-and-great-benefit-from/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [“doing themselves any favours. There’s nothing unique about them, so they’re utterly forgettable. While there’s an obvious benefit to learning from established leaders”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-jarvis/doing-themselves-any-favours-there-s-nothing-unique-about-them-so/) [Paul Jarvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-jarvis/) > [“The greatest benefit isn’t getting what you want. The greatest benefit is what you’ll need to become in order to get what you want.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-worre/the-greatest-benefit-isn-t-getting-what-you-want-the-greatest-benefit/) [Eric Worre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-worre/) > [To furnish the means of acquiring knowledge is ... the greatest benefit that can be conferred upon mankind. It prolongs life itself and enlarges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/to-furnish-the-means-of-acquiring-knowledge-is-the-greatest-benefit/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [“Of all the things that one can do spiritually, to re-merge with your soul provides the greatest benefit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-armond-powell/of-all-the-things-that-one-can-do-spiritually-to-re-merge-with-your/) [Gerard Armond Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-armond-powell/) > [Trusting God is the greatest benefit we have as believers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/trusting-god-is-the-greatest-benefit-we-have-as-believers/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“The greatest benefit I bring my team is not my talents, gifts, experience, or education. It’s my energy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-scroggins/the-greatest-benefit-i-bring-my-team-is-not-my-talents-gifts/) [Clay Scroggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-scroggins/) > [“What is the greatest benefit in the world? The association with good people. Those who are considered somewhat worthy of reverence by society.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/what-is-the-greatest-benefit-in-the-world-the-association-with-good/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [His calumny is not only the greatest benefit a rogue can confer on us, but the only service he will perform for nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/his-calumny-is-not-only-the-greatest-benefit-a-rogue-can-confer-on-us/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [The greatest benefit we owe to the artist, whether painter, poet, or novelist, is the extension of our sympathies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/the-greatest-benefit-we-owe-to-the-artist-whether-painter-poet-or-2/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [The greatest benefit derived from the study of science is that it lifts you out of and above the littleness of daily trials. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mitchell/the-greatest-benefit-derived-from-the-study-of-science-is-that-it/) [Maria Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mitchell/) > [“The greatest benefit of negative capability—the true power of negative thinking—is that it lets the mystery back in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burkeman/the-greatest-benefit-of-negative-capability-the-true-power-of/) [Oliver Burkeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burkeman/) > [“The greatest benefit we owe to the artist, whether painter, poet, or novelist, is the extension of our sympathies… Art is the nearest thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/the-greatest-benefit-we-owe-to-the-artist-whether-painter-poet-or/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“If you find someone you're in love with that's also your friend, wouldn't that be the greatest benefit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-hart/if-you-find-someone-you-re-in-love-with-that-s-also-your-friend/) [Ellie Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-hart/) > [The greatest benefit of depression is the fact that when I have talked about it, every so often someone comes up and says, 'You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cavett/the-greatest-benefit-of-depression-is-the-fact-that-when-i-have/) [Dick Cavett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cavett/) ## More by Plutarch > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The generous mind adds dignity to every act, and nothing misbecomes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-generous-mind-adds-dignity-to-every-act-and-nothing-misbecomes-it/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Painting is silent poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/painting-is-silent-poetry/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [King Agis said, "The Lacedæmonians are not wont to ask how many, but where the enemy are."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/king-agis-said-the-laced-monians-are-not-wont-to-ask-how-many-but/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Alexander wept when he heard from Anaxarchus that there was an infinite number of worlds; and his friends asking him if any accident had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/alexander-wept-when-he-heard-from-anaxarchus-that-there-was-an/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Proper listening is the foundation of proper living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/proper-listening-is-the-foundation-of-proper-living/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/painting-is-silent-poetry-and-poetry-is-painting-that-speaks/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Speech is like cloth of Arras opened and put abroad, whereby the imagery doth appear in figure; whereas in thoughts they lie but as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/speech-is-like-cloth-of-arras-opened-and-put-abroad-whereby-the/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [There were two brothers called Both and Either; perceiving Either was a good, understanding, busy fellow, and Both a silly fellow and good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/there-were-two-brothers-called-both-and-either-perceiving-either-was/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Why does pouring Oil on the Sea make it Clear and Calm? 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But Philolaus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/this-excerpt-is-presented-as-reproduced-by-copernicus-in-the-preface/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [It is part of a good man to do great and noble deeds, though he risk everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/it-is-part-of-a-good-man-to-do-great-and-noble-deeds-though-he-risk/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [I am whatever was, or is, or will be; and my veil no mortal ever took up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/i-am-whatever-was-or-is-or-will-be-and-my-veil-no-mortal-ever-took-up/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The pilot cannot mitigate the billows or calm the winds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-pilot-cannot-mitigate-the-billows-or-calm-the-winds/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [“In Springtime, O Dionysos, To thy holy temple come, To Elis with thy Graces, Rushing with thy bull-foot, come, Noble Bull, Noble Bull”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/in-springtime-o-dionysos-to-thy-holy-temple-come-to-elis-with-thy/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) [Explore all 451 Plutarch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) ## More Learning quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. 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Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/) [Browse all 22,300 Learning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“And, to say truly, the greatest benefit that learning bringeth unto men is this: that it teacheth men that be rough and rude of nature, by compass and rule of reason, to be civil and courteous, and to like better the mean state than the higher.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plutarch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/and-to-say-truly-the-greatest-benefit-that-learning-bringeth-unto-men/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Learning" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/and-to-say-truly-the-greatest-benefit-that-learning-bringeth-unto-men/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/931/plutarch-597_nature_and-to-say-truly-the-greatest-benefit-th_1363662.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/931/plutarch-597_nature_and-to-say-truly-the-greatest-benefit-th_1363662.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/931/plutarch-597_nature_and-to-say-truly-the-greatest-benefit-th_1363662.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And, to say truly, the greatest benefit that learning bringeth unto men is this: that it teacheth men that…” — Plutarch", "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": "Plutarch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“And, to say truly, the greatest...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/and-to-say-truly-the-greatest-benefit-that-learning-bringeth-unto-men/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/and-to-say-truly-the-greatest-benefit-that-learning-bringeth-unto-men/#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 } } ] } ```