--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The scholar was not raised by the sacred…" description: "\"The scholar was not raised by the sacred thoughts amongst which he dwelt, but used them to selfish ends. He was a profane person,and became a showman, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/046/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_ends_the-scholar-was-not-raised-by-the-sacred_1536576.jpg" --- # The scholar was not raised by the sacred thoughts amongst… ![“The scholar was not raised by the sacred thoughts amongst which he dwelt, but used them to selfish ends. He was a profane person,and became a showman, turning his gifts to marketable use, and not to his own sustenance and growth. It was found that the intellect could be independently developed…” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/046/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_ends_the-scholar-was-not-raised-by-the-sacred_1536576.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/046/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_ends_the-scholar-was-not-raised-by-the-sacred_1536576.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/046/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_ends_the-scholar-was-not-raised-by-the-sacred_1536576.jpg) > “The scholar was not raised by the sacred thoughts amongst which he dwelt, but used them to selfish ends. He was a profane person,and became a showman, turning his gifts to marketable use, and not to his own sustenance and growth. It was found that the intellect could be independently developed, that is, in separation from the man, as any single organ can be invigorated, and the result was monstrous.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intellect can be cultivated apart from moral or spiritual guidance, but using it selfishly leads to exploitation and distortion. **In simple terms:** Intellect can develop alone, yet selfish use corrupts it. Key Takeaway Cultivate intellect with humility. Themes intellect ethics self‑interest commercialization Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - academic research - creative industries - personal development - public discourse Key Concepts philosophy human nature education integrity Questions to Reflect On - How to balance intellect and ethics? - What role should society play in guiding knowledge? A Different Perspective Pure intellect without moral grounding may become harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Growth Intellect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth-intellect-1602319/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Intellect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellect/) [Intellect Independently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellect-independently-5713549/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Monstrous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monstrous/) [Organs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organs/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Profane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profane/) [Raised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raised/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred/) [Scholar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholar/) [Scholar Raised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholar-raised-5713550/) [Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/) [Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation/) [Sustenance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sustenance/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) ## Related quotes > [The growth of the intellect is spontaneous in every expansion. The mind that grows could not predict the times, the means, the mode of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-growth-of-the-intellect-is-spontaneous-in-every-expansion-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [It seems as if the day was not wholly profane in which we have given heed to some natural object.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/it-seems-as-if-the-day-was-not-wholly-profane-in-which-we-have-given/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The spirit only can teach. Not any profane man, not any sensual, not any liar, not any slave can teach, but only he can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-spirit-only-can-teach-not-any-profane-man-not-any-sensual-not-any/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [There are dull and bright, sacred and profane, coarse and fine egotists. It is a disease that, like influenza, falls on all constitutions. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-are-dull-and-bright-sacred-and-profane-coarse-and-fine-egotists/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The pest of society are the egotist, they are dull and bright, sacred and profane, course and fine. It is a disease that like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-pest-of-society-are-the-egotist-they-are-dull-and-bright-sacred/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No facts to me are sacred; none are profane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-facts-to-me-are-sacred-none-are-profane/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In the Greek cities, it was reckoned profane, that any person should pretend a property in a work of art, which belonged to all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-the-greek-cities-it-was-reckoned-profane-that-any-person-should/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No facts are to me sacred; none are profane; I simply experiment, an endless seeker, with no past at my back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-facts-are-to-me-sacred-none-are-profane-i-simply-experiment-an/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The relations of the soul to the divine spirit are so pure, that it is profane to seek to interpose helps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-relations-of-the-soul-to-the-divine-spirit-are-so-pure-that-it-is/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [But lest I should mislead any when I have my own head and obey my whims, let me remind the reader that I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/but-lest-i-should-mislead-any-when-i-have-my-own-head-and-obey-my/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Sleep takes off the costume of circumstance, arms us with terrible freedom, so that every will rushes to deed. A skillful man reads his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/sleep-takes-off-the-costume-of-circumstance-arms-us-with-terrible-2/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Love of Allah is the power of the heart, the sustenance of the heart, the light of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-qayyim-al-jawziyya/love-of-allah-is-the-power-of-the-heart-the-sustenance-of-the-heart/) [Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-qayyim-al-jawziyya/) > [Bread is a second cause; the LORD Himself is the first source of our sustenance. He can work without the second cause as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bread-is-a-second-cause-the-lord-himself-is-the-first-source-of-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The prime communities of the Southwest are survival communities. Their sustenance is governed by rainfall and wind direction. You can study little enclaves of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-predock/the-prime-communities-of-the-southwest-are-survival-communities-their/) [Antoine Predock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-predock/) > [No religion has mandated killing others as a requirement for its sustenance or promotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-religion-has-mandated-killing-others-as-a-requirement-for-its/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Ends quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [The end is nothing; the road is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/the-end-is-nothing-the-road-is-all/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [What is history after all? History is facts which become lies in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/what-is-history-after-all-history-is-facts-which-become-lies-in-the/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [At the end of night, before you close your eyes, be content with what you've done and be proud of who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/at-the-end-of-night-before-you-close-your-eyes-be-content-with-what/) [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) > [it is the brevity of life which makes it tolerable; its experiences have value because they have an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-holtby/it-is-the-brevity-of-life-which-makes-it-tolerable-its-experiences/) [Winifred Holtby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-holtby/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [Believe to the end, even if all men went astray and you were left the only one faithful; bring your offering even then and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/believe-to-the-end-even-if-all-men-went-astray-and-you-were-left-the/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [When the amount of change externally exceeds the amount of change internally, the end is in sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/when-the-amount-of-change-externally-exceeds-the-amount-of-change/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The beginning of love is all about the butterflies, but the end of it is when you can't get out of bed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-beginning-of-love-is-all-about-the-butterflies-but-the-end-of-it/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) [Browse all 20,790 Ends quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The scholar was not raised by the sacred thoughts amongst which he dwelt, but used them to selfish ends. He was a profane person,and became a showman, turning his gifts to marketable use, and not to his own sustenance and growth. It was found that the intellect could be independently developed, that is, in separation from the man, as any single organ can be invigorated, and the result was monstrous.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-scholar-was-not-raised-by-the-sacred-thoughts-amongst-which-he/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ends" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-scholar-was-not-raised-by-the-sacred-thoughts-amongst-which-he/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/046/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_ends_the-scholar-was-not-raised-by-the-sacred_1536576.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/046/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_ends_the-scholar-was-not-raised-by-the-sacred_1536576.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/046/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_ends_the-scholar-was-not-raised-by-the-sacred_1536576.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The scholar was not raised by the sacred thoughts amongst which he dwelt, but used them to selfish ends. He…” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "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": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The scholar was not raised by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-scholar-was-not-raised-by-the-sacred-thoughts-amongst-which-he/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-scholar-was-not-raised-by-the-sacred-thoughts-amongst-which-he/#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 } } ] } ```