--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A little knowledge is a dangerous thing…" description: "\"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but a little want of knowledge is also a dangerous thing.\" — Samuel Butler" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/samuel-butler-823_also_a-little-knowledge-is-a-dangerous-thing_269123.jpg" --- # A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but a little want… ![“A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but a little want of knowledge is also a dangerous thing.” quote by Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/samuel-butler-823_also_a-little-knowledge-is-a-dangerous-thing_269123.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/samuel-butler-823_also_a-little-knowledge-is-a-dangerous-thing_269123.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/samuel-butler-823_also_a-little-knowledge-is-a-dangerous-thing_269123.jpg) > “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but a little want of knowledge is also a dangerous thing.” [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Both having some knowledge and lacking it can be dangerous; balance is needed. **In simple terms:** Both too much and too little knowledge are risky. Key Takeaway Seek balanced understanding. Themes education risk balance Mood cautious analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - learning strategies - decision making - risk assessment Key Concepts cognitive bias information overload ignorance Questions to Reflect On - When is limited knowledge beneficial? - How do we avoid overconfidence? A Different Perspective It may oversimplify complex knowledge dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Also](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/also/) [Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous/) [Dangerous thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous-thing/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-dangerous-992456/) [Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little/) [Little knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-knowledge/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-knowledge-1652447/) ## Related quotes > [A little knowledge is a dangerous thing - it only hastens fools to rush in where angels fear to tread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/a-little-knowledge-is-a-dangerous-thing-it-only-hastens-fools-to-rush/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The saying that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing is, to my mind, a very dangerous adage. If knowledge is real and genuine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/the-saying-that-a-little-knowledge-is-a-dangerous-thing-is-to-my-mind/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [A little knowledge may or may not be a dangerous thing. It will certainly soon be more expensive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/a-little-knowledge-may-or-may-not-be-a-dangerous-thing-it-will/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [A little knowledge is a dangerous thing." - Harkat Mulds (Hunters of the Dusk)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/a-little-knowledge-is-a-dangerous-thing-harkat-mulds-hunters-of-the/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) > [A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sreenadh/a-little-knowledge-is-a-dangerous-thing/) [Sreenadh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sreenadh/) > [If a little knowledge was a dangerous thing, a lot was lethal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sharpe/if-a-little-knowledge-was-a-dangerous-thing-a-lot-was-lethal/) [Tom Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sharpe/) > [A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. So is a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-little-knowledge-is-a-dangerous-thing-so-is-a-lot/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“little knowledge is dangerous thing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/er-teji/little-knowledge-is-dangerous-thing/) [er.teji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/er-teji/) > [A small amount of power corrupts a small man absolutely. A little knowledge is dangerous to a little man. To a great man only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-j-v-compagno/a-small-amount-of-power-corrupts-a-small-man-absolutely-a-little/) [Leonard J. V. Compagno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-j-v-compagno/) > [They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/they-say-a-little-knowledge-is-a-dangerous-thing-but-it-s-not-one/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Granny sighed. "You have learned something," she said, and thought it safe to insert a touch of sternness into her voice. "They say a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/granny-sighed-you-have-learned-something-she-said-and-thought-it-safe/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [If a little knowledge is dangerous, where is the man who has so much as to be out of danger?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-a-little-knowledge-is-dangerous-where-is-the-man-who-has-so-much/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. It's much easier to be brave when you don't believe that the monster under your bed is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/a-little-knowledge-is-a-dangerous-thing-it-s-much-easier-to-be-brave/) [Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/) > [A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. I regret that this isn't fatal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/a-little-knowledge-is-a-dangerous-thing-i-regret-that-this-isn-t-fatal/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [You know that saying 'A little knowledge is a dangerous thing'? That's so true of positive psychology. Our latest research tells us that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-fredrickson/you-know-that-saying-a-little-knowledge-is-a-dangerous-thing-that-s/) [Barbara Fredrickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-fredrickson/) ## More by Samuel Butler > [Is life worth living? This is a question for an embryo not for a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/is-life-worth-living-this-is-a-question-for-an-embryo-not-for-a-man/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [I am the enfant terrible of literature and science. 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