--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am not able to instruct you. I can only…" description: "\"I am not able to instruct you. I can only tell that I have chosen wrong. I have passed my time in study without experience; in the attainment of scienc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f5/samuel-johnson-50_able_i-am-not-able-to-instruct-you-i-can-only_1531922.jpg" --- # I am not able to instruct you. I can only tell that I have… ![“I am not able to instruct you. I can only tell that I have chosen wrong. I have passed my time in study without experience; in the attainment of sciences which can, for the most part, be but remotely useful to mankind. I have purchased knowledge at the expense of all the common comforts of life: I…” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f5/samuel-johnson-50_able_i-am-not-able-to-instruct-you-i-can-only_1531922.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f5/samuel-johnson-50_able_i-am-not-able-to-instruct-you-i-can-only_1531922.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f5/samuel-johnson-50_able_i-am-not-able-to-instruct-you-i-can-only_1531922.jpg) > “I am not able to instruct you. I can only tell that I have chosen wrong. I have passed my time in study without experience; in the attainment of sciences which can, for the most part, be but remotely useful to mankind. I have purchased knowledge at the expense of all the common comforts of life: I have missed the endearing elegance of female friendship, and the happy commerce of domestic tenderness.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker regrets prioritizing academic pursuits over personal relationships, recognizing that knowledge alone cannot fulfill emotional needs. **In simple terms:** He chose study over friendship and regrets it. Key Takeaway Balance learning with human connection. Themes regret education relationships Mood thoughtful somber Type reflective philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - relationship counseling Key Concepts humanism life‑balance priorities Questions to Reflect On - What sacrifices are worth making for knowledge? - How can one integrate study with social life? A Different Perspective The perspective may undervalue the long‑term benefits of scholarly work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Attainment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attainment/) [Chosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chosen/) [Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort/) [Commerce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commerce/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Elegance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elegance/) [Endearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endearing/) [Expenses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expenses/) [Female](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female/) [Female friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female-friendship/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Instruct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruct/) [Instruct Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruct-tell-5685390/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [My time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-time/) [Purchased Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purchased-knowledge-5685389/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Study](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study/) [Tenderness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tenderness/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [He endearing elegance of female friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/he-endearing-elegance-of-female-friendship/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The endearing elegance of female friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-endearing-elegance-of-female-friendship/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Those authors who would find many readers, must endeavour to please while they instruct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/those-authors-who-would-find-many-readers-must-endeavour-to-please/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Among the lower classes of mankind there will be found very little desire of any other knowledge than what may contribute immediately to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/among-the-lower-classes-of-mankind-there-will-be-found-very-little/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All envy is proportionate to desire; we are uneasy at the attainments of another, according as we think our own happiness would be advanced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-envy-is-proportionate-to-desire-we-are-uneasy-at-the-attainments/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Few men survey themselves with so much severity as not to admit prejudices in their own favour, which an artful flatterer may gradually strengthen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/few-men-survey-themselves-with-so-much-severity-as-not-to-admit-2/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Affectation naturally counterfeits those excellences which are placed at the greatest distance from possibility of attainment, because, knowing our own defects, we eagerly endeavor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/affectation-naturally-counterfeits-those-excellences-which-are-placed/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-eminence-of-learning-is-not-to-be-gained-without-labour-at-least/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Such is the emptiness of human enjoyment that we are always impatient of the present. Attainment is followed by neglect, and possession by disgust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/such-is-the-emptiness-of-human-enjoyment-that-we-are-always-impatient/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It ought to be the first endeavour of a writer to distinguish nature from custom; or that which is established because it is right,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-ought-to-be-the-first-endeavour-of-a-writer-to-distinguish-nature/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Attainment is followed by neglect, possession by disgust, and the malicious remark of the Greek epigrammatist on marriage may be applied to many another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/attainment-is-followed-by-neglect-possession-by-disgust-and-the/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Some read for style, and some for argument: one has little care about the sentiment, he observes only how it is expressed; another regards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/some-read-for-style-and-some-for-argument-one-has-little-care-about/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [At length weariness succeeds to labor, and the mind lies at ease in the contemplation of her own attainments without any desire of new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/at-length-weariness-succeeds-to-labor-and-the-mind-lies-at-ease-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Let the flesh instruct the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/let-the-flesh-instruct-the-mind/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [“We all love to instruct, though we can teach only what is not worth knowing. Forgive me; and if you persist in indifference, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/we-all-love-to-instruct-though-we-can-teach-only-what-is-not-worth/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. 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