--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Alas! how terrible it is to know, Where…" description: "\"“Alas! how terrible it is to know, Where no good comes of knowing!”\" — Sophocles" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/sophocles-370_alas_alas-how-terrible-it-is-to-know-where-no_1051541.png" --- # Alas! how terrible it is to know, Where no good comes of… ![“Alas! how terrible it is to know, Where no good comes of knowing!” quote by Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/sophocles-370_alas_alas-how-terrible-it-is-to-know-where-no_1051541.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/sophocles-370_alas_alas-how-terrible-it-is-to-know-where-no_1051541.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/sophocles-370_alas_alas-how-terrible-it-is-to-know-where-no_1051541.png) > ““Alas! how terrible it is to know, Where no good comes of knowing!”” [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Knowing too much can bring suffering when it reveals harsh truths. **In simple terms:** Excessive knowledge can cause pain. Key Takeaway Seek wisdom, not just facts. Themes knowledge suffering truth Mood melancholic reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - education - leadership - personal growth Key Concepts philosophy ethics human condition Questions to Reflect On - What truths are you avoiding? - How can you manage painful knowledge? A Different Perspective Too much information may overwhelm and hinder action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Sad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sad/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) ## Related quotes > [It's terrible to know that no matter how you try to help your child, his condition will worsen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-susan-rapp/it-s-terrible-to-know-that-no-matter-how-you-try-to-help-your-child/) [Emily Susan Rapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-susan-rapp/) > [“Much that is terrible we do not know. Much that is beautiful we shall still discover. Let's sail till we come to the edge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/much-that-is-terrible-we-do-not-know-much-that-is-beautiful-we-shall/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Alas, how quickly the gratitude owed to the dead flows off, how quick to be proved a deceiver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/alas-how-quickly-the-gratitude-owed-to-the-dead-flows-off-how-quick/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Nothing is more common than for men to make partial and absurd distinctions between vices of equal enormity, and to observe some of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nothing-is-more-common-than-for-men-to-make-partial-and-absurd/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“OEDIPUS: O, O, O, they will all come, all come out clearly! Light of the sun, let me look upon you no more after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/oedipus-o-o-o-they-will-all-come-all-come-out-clearly-light-of-the/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“OEDIPUS: Upon the murderer I invoke this curse- whether he is one man and all unknown, or one of many- may he wear out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/oedipus-upon-the-murderer-i-invoke-this-curse-whether-he-is-one-man/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [If you have done terrible things, you must endure terrible things; for thus the sacred light of injustice shines bright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/if-you-have-done-terrible-things-you-must-endure-terrible-things-for/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“Tell her I'm sorry I sold the diamond, eh?" Sammy said. "I broke my promise. When she disappeared in Alaska... ah, so long ago,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/tell-her-i-m-sorry-i-sold-the-diamond-eh-sammy-said-i-broke-my/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [We just sent our condolences to the President of the United States and the American people on what is a terrible, terrible tragedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-clark/we-just-sent-our-condolences-to-the-president-of-the-united-states/) [Helen Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-clark/) > [All writers are liars. They twist events to suit themselves. They make use of their own tragedies to make a better story... They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-bawden/all-writers-are-liars-they-twist-events-to-suit-themselves-they-make/) [Nina Bawden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-bawden/) > [Removing prejudices is, alas! too often removing the boundary of a delightful near prospect in order to let in a shockingly extensive one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-fulke-greville/removing-prejudices-is-alas-too-often-removing-the-boundary-of-a/) [Sir Fulke Greville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-fulke-greville/) > [Time, time - that is our greatest master! Alas, like Ugolino, time devours its own children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-berlioz/time-time-that-is-our-greatest-master-alas-like-ugolino-time-devours/) [Hector Berlioz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-berlioz/) > [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [We are all potentially such sick men. The sanest and best of us are of one clay with lunatics and prison-inmates. And whenever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/we-are-all-potentially-such-sick-men-the-sanest-and-best-of-us-are-of/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [“Muchos de los ángeles de Dios no tienen alas...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/muchos-de-los-ngeles-de-dios-no-tienen-alas/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) ## More by Sophocles > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [God's dice always have a lucky roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/god-s-dice-always-have-a-lucky-roll/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [A fool cannot be an actor, though an actor may act a fool's part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-fool-cannot-be-an-actor-though-an-actor-may-act-a-fool-s-part/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Go then if you must, but remember, no matter how foolish your deeds, those who love you will love you still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/go-then-if-you-must-but-remember-no-matter-how-foolish-your-deeds/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Man's worst ill is stubbornness of heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/man-s-worst-ill-is-stubbornness-of-heart/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [A lie never lives to be old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-lie-never-lives-to-be-old/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [How dangerous can false reasoning prove!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/how-dangerous-can-false-reasoning-prove/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Why should man fear since chance is all in all for him, and he can clearly foreknow nothing? Best to live lightly, as one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/why-should-man-fear-since-chance-is-all-in-all-for-him-and-he-can/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“But life takes sudden twists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/but-life-takes-sudden-twists/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [When ice appears out of doors, and boys seize it up while it is solid, at first they experience new pleasures. But in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/when-ice-appears-out-of-doors-and-boys-seize-it-up-while-it-is-solid/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [For God hates utterly the bray of bragging tongues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/for-god-hates-utterly-the-bray-of-bragging-tongues/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I have nothing but contempt for the kind of governor who is afraid, for whatever reason, to follow the course that he knows is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/i-have-nothing-but-contempt-for-the-kind-of-governor-who-is-afraid/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“Not from Hades' black and universal lake can you lift him. Not by groaning, not by prayers. Yet you run yourself out in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/not-from-hades-black-and-universal-lake-can-you-lift-him-not-by/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [A fearful man is always hearing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-fearful-man-is-always-hearing-things/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [There is a point at which even justice does injury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/there-is-a-point-at-which-even-justice-does-injury/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) [Explore all 621 Sophocles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) ## More Alas quotes > [“Muchos de los ángeles de Dios no tienen alas...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/muchos-de-los-ngeles-de-dios-no-tienen-alas/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [We are all potentially such sick men. The sanest and best of us are of one clay with lunatics and prison-inmates. And whenever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/we-are-all-potentially-such-sick-men-the-sanest-and-best-of-us-are-of/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [Time, time - that is our greatest master! Alas, like Ugolino, time devours its own children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-berlioz/time-time-that-is-our-greatest-master-alas-like-ugolino-time-devours/) [Hector Berlioz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-berlioz/) > [Removing prejudices is, alas! too often removing the boundary of a delightful near prospect in order to let in a shockingly extensive one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-fulke-greville/removing-prejudices-is-alas-too-often-removing-the-boundary-of-a/) [Sir Fulke Greville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-fulke-greville/) > [Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-pharcellus-church/yes-virginia-there-is-a-santa-claus-he-exists-as-certainly-as-love/) [Francis Pharcellus Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-pharcellus-church/) > [Alas, Postumus, the fleeting years slip by, nor will piety give any stay to wrinkles and pressing old age and untamable death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/alas-postumus-the-fleeting-years-slip-by-nor-will-piety-give-any-stay/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Sensible Catholics have for generations been ignoring the views on contraception held by reactionary old men in the Vatican, but alas, since it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-grayling/sensible-catholics-have-for-generations-been-ignoring-the-views-on/) [A.C. Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-grayling/) > [The flesh is sad, alas, and I have read all the books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/the-flesh-is-sad-alas-and-i-have-read-all-the-books/) [Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) > [Alas! all music jars when the soul's out of tune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/alas-all-music-jars-when-the-soul-s-out-of-tune/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [In spite of the honestest efforts to annihilate my I-ity, or merge it in what the world doubtless considers my better half, I still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-welsh-carlyle/in-spite-of-the-honestest-efforts-to-annihilate-my-i-ity-or-merge-it/) [Jane Welsh Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-welsh-carlyle/) > [The dumpling is indeed of more ancient institution, and of foreign origin; but alas, what were those dumplings? Nothing but a few lentils sodden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/the-dumpling-is-indeed-of-more-ancient-institution-and-of-foreign/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [“World is so beautiful, but alas! There are so many assholes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/world-is-so-beautiful-but-alas-there-are-so-many-assholes/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Ideally a painter (and, generally, an artist) should not become conscious of his insights: without taking the detour through his reflective processes, and incomprehensibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/ideally-a-painter-and-generally-an-artist-should-not-become-conscious/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [Alas! we makeA ladder of our thoughts, where angels step,But sleep ourselves at the foot: our high resolvesLook down upon our slumbering acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/alas-we-makea-ladder-of-our-thoughts-where-angels-step-but-sleep/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) Browse all 453 Alas quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Alas! how terrible it is to know, Where no good comes of knowing!”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sophocles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/alas-how-terrible-it-is-to-know-where-no-good-comes-of-knowing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alas" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/alas-how-terrible-it-is-to-know-where-no-good-comes-of-knowing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/sophocles-370_alas_alas-how-terrible-it-is-to-know-where-no_1051541.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/sophocles-370_alas_alas-how-terrible-it-is-to-know-where-no_1051541.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/sophocles-370_alas_alas-how-terrible-it-is-to-know-where-no_1051541.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Alas! how terrible it is to know, Where no good comes of knowing!” — Sophocles", "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": "Sophocles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Alas! how terrible it is to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/alas-how-terrible-it-is-to-know-where-no-good-comes-of-knowing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/alas-how-terrible-it-is-to-know-where-no-good-comes-of-knowing/#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 } } ] } ```