--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pendantry is the unseasonable ostentation…" description: "\"Pendantry is the unseasonable ostentation of learning. It may be discovered either in the choice of a subject or in the manner d treating it.\" — Samuel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/samuel-johnson-50_choices_pendantry-is-the-unseasonable-ostentatio_1197531.png" --- # Pendantry is the unseasonable ostentation of learning. It… ![“Pendantry is the unseasonable ostentation of learning. It may be discovered either in the choice of a subject or in the manner d treating it.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/samuel-johnson-50_choices_pendantry-is-the-unseasonable-ostentatio_1197531.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/samuel-johnson-50_choices_pendantry-is-the-unseasonable-ostentatio_1197531.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/samuel-johnson-50_choices_pendantry-is-the-unseasonable-ostentatio_1197531.png) > “Pendantry is the unseasonable ostentation of learning. It may be discovered either in the choice of a subject or in the manner d treating it.” [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. Pseudoscientific display of knowledge appears as unnecessary extravagance, either in topic choice or its presentation. **In simple terms:** Showy learning can be pointless. Key Takeaway Prioritize substance over show. Themes knowledge pretension education humility Mood critical thoughtful Type essay philosophical When to use this quote - academic lectures - public speaking - writing workshops Key Concepts ostentation authenticity critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - When does learning become ostentatious? - How can we value depth over display? A Different Perspective May overlook genuine expertise in favor of simplicity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Ostentation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ostentation/) [Pedantry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pedantry/) ## Related quotes > [I have seldom seen much ostentation and much learning met together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/i-have-seldom-seen-much-ostentation-and-much-learning-met-together/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [I found nothing really wrong with this autobiography except poor choice of subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/i-found-nothing-really-wrong-with-this-autobiography-except-poor/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [Economic analysis is the first principle of Marxism. Professors who were genuine leftists would have challenged the entire economics-driven machinery of American academe the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/economic-analysis-is-the-first-principle-of-marxism-professors-who/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Pedantry, in the common acceptation of the word, means an absurd ostentation of learning, and stiffness of phraseology, proceeding from a misguided knowledge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mackenzie/pedantry-in-the-common-acceptation-of-the-word-means-an-absurd/) [Henry Mackenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mackenzie/) > [Simplicity is the mean between ostentation and rusticity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/simplicity-is-the-mean-between-ostentation-and-rusticity/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Taffeta phrases, silken terms precise, Three-piled hyperboles, spruce affection, Figures pedantical--these summer flies Have blown me full of maggot ostentation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/taffeta-phrases-silken-terms-precise-three-piled-hyperboles-spruce/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [That which is given with pride and ostentation is rather an ambition than a bounty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-which-is-given-with-pride-and-ostentation-is-rather-an-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People of our time are so formed for agitation and ostentation that goodness, moderation, equability, constancy, and such quiet and obscure qualities are no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/people-of-our-time-are-so-formed-for-agitation-and-ostentation-that/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [“A taste for ostentation is rarely associated in the same souls with a taste for honesty. No, it is not possible that minds degraded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau-2/a-taste-for-ostentation-is-rarely-associated-in-the-same-souls-with-a/) [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau-2/) > [The experience of the ages that are past, the hopes of the ages that are yet to come, unite their voices in an appeal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/the-experience-of-the-ages-that-are-past-the-hopes-of-the-ages-that/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [Do what good thou canst unknown, and be not vain of what ought rather to be felt than seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/do-what-good-thou-canst-unknown-and-be-not-vain-of-what-ought-rather/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [When blessed with wealth, let them withdraw from the competition of vanity and be modest, retiring from ostentation, and not be the slaves of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/when-blessed-with-wealth-let-them-withdraw-from-the-competition-of/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [Whatever is done without ostentation, and without the people being witnesses of it, is, in my opinion, most praiseworthy: not that the public eye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/whatever-is-done-without-ostentation-and-without-the-people-being/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Fashion for the most part is nothing but the ostentation of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/fashion-for-the-most-part-is-nothing-but-the-ostentation-of-riches/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [This was the ultimate form of ostentation among technology freaks - to have a system so complete and sophisticated that nothing showed; no machines,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-swanwick/this-was-the-ultimate-form-of-ostentation-among-technology-freaks-to/) [Michael Swanwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-swanwick/) ## 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 Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Pendantry is the unseasonable ostentation of learning. 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