Acquisition Quote by Samuel Johnson
“That eminence of learning is not to be gained without labour, at least equal to that which any other kind of greatness can require, will be allowed by those who wish to elevate the character of a scholar; since they cannot but know that every human acquisition is valuable in proportion to the difficulty of its attainment.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Idler, Essay on Learning, 1761
Great learning requires effort proportional to its difficulty; value rises with the struggle to achieve it.
In simple terms: Hard work makes learning valuable.
Key Takeaway
Invest effort proportional to desired mastery.
Themes
learning
effort
value
scholarship
achievement
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- Academic study
- skill mastery
- career advancement
Key Concepts
Meritocracy
intellectual labor
educational philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- What learning goals are worth the effort?
- How can you balance effort with realistic expectations?
A Different Perspective
Excessive focus on difficulty may discourage those with limited resources.
![“No one suffers so much as he [the genius] with the people, and, therefore, for the people, with whom he lives. For, in a certain sense, it is certainly only "by suffering" that a man knows. If compassion is not itself clear, abstractly conceivable or visibly symbolic knowledge, it is, at any rate…” quote by Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bec/otto-weininger-11319_acquisition_no-one-suffers-so-much-as-he-the-genius_20597.jpg)
