--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you desire to know or learn anything…" description: "\"“If you desire to know or learn anything to your advantage, then take delight in being unknown and unregarded. A true understanding and humble estimate..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/thomas-a-kempis-721_humility_if-you-desire-to-know-or-learn-anything_1885414.png" --- # If you desire to know or learn anything to your advantage… ![“If you desire to know or learn anything to your advantage, then take delight in being unknown and unregarded. A true understanding and humble estimate of oneself is the highest and most valuable of all lessons. To take no account of oneself, but always to think well and highly of others is the…” quote by Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/thomas-a-kempis-721_humility_if-you-desire-to-know-or-learn-anything_1885414.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/thomas-a-kempis-721_humility_if-you-desire-to-know-or-learn-anything_1885414.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/thomas-a-kempis-721_humility_if-you-desire-to-know-or-learn-anything_1885414.png) > ““If you desire to know or learn anything to your advantage, then take delight in being unknown and unregarded. A true understanding and humble estimate of oneself is the highest and most valuable of all lessons. To take no account of oneself, but always to think well and highly of others is the highest wisdom and perfection.”” [Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humility and self‑awareness are essential for true wisdom; valuing others above oneself leads to perfection. **In simple terms:** Know yourself, respect others, achieve wisdom. Key Takeaway Cultivate humility and esteem for others. Themes humility self‑knowledge wisdom perfection Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership - conflict resolution - teaching - mentoring Key Concepts Stoicism Christian ethics self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance self‑respect with respect for others? - What practices foster true humility? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on others may neglect self‑care and personal boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Estimate Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/estimate-oneself-1530578/) [Highest Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highest-wisdom-440387/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Know Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-learn/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Oneself Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself-highest-672260/) [True understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-understanding/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [If you desire to know or learn anything to your advantage, then take delight in being unknown and unregarded. A true understanding and humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/if-you-desire-to-know-or-learn-anything-to-your-advantage-then-take/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Humility is to make a right estimate of oneself. It is no humility for a man to think less of himself than he ought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/humility-is-to-make-a-right-estimate-of-oneself-it-is-no-humility-for/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Being frank and honest with oneself should be of highest priority. ~V](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-meetze/being-frank-and-honest-with-oneself-should-be-of-highest-priority-v/) [Victoria Meetze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-meetze/) > [So to conduct one's life as to realize oneself-this seems to me the highest attainment possible to a human being. It is the task…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/so-to-conduct-one-s-life-as-to-realize-oneself-this-seems-to-me-the/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [Humility is the proper estimate of oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/humility-is-the-proper-estimate-of-oneself/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“Humility is to make a right estimate of oneself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/humility-is-to-make-a-right-estimate-of-oneself/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [ Virtue consists in avoiding vice, and is the highest wisdom. \[Lat., Virtus est vitium fugere, et sapientia prima.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/virtue-consists-in-avoiding-vice-and-is-the-highest-wisdom-lat-virtus/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [“...she seemed to know more of life than is known to the wisest of the wise. It might be the highest wisdom or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/she-seemed-to-know-more-of-life-than-is-known-to-the-wisest-of-the/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-beautiful-thing-we-can-experience-is-the-mysterious-it-is-3/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The highest wisdom has but one science-the science of the whole-the science explaining the whole creation and man's place in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-highest-wisdom-has-but-one-science-the-science-of-the-whole-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Be like a bridge; be on this side, be on the other side and be on no side! In other words, be in everywhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/be-like-a-bridge-be-on-this-side-be-on-the-other-side-and-be-on-no/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“... suicide robs a person of the highest wisdom regarding the apparent futility of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-graham/suicide-robs-a-person-of-the-highest-wisdom-regarding-the-apparent/) [Jacob Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-graham/) > [“I am the way into the city of woe, I am the way into eternal pain, I am the way to go among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/i-am-the-way-into-the-city-of-woe-i-am-the-way-into-eternal-pain-i-am/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [To take no account of oneself, but always to think well and highly of others is the highest wisdom and perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/to-take-no-account-of-oneself-but-always-to-think-well-and-highly-of/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [“A sage's lowest wisdom surpasses a scholar's highest wisdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-sage-s-lowest-wisdom-surpasses-a-scholar-s-highest-wisdom/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) ## More by Thomas à Kempis > [Have therefore zeal to better thyself and then mayst thou have zeal to thy neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/have-therefore-zeal-to-better-thyself-and-then-mayst-thou-have-zeal/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [And if thy heart be straight with God then every creature shall be to thee a mirror of life and a book of holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/and-if-thy-heart-be-straight-with-god-then-every-creature-shall-be-to/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Patience is necessary in this life because so much of life is fraught with adversity. No matter how hard we try, our lives will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/patience-is-necessary-in-this-life-because-so-much-of-life-is-fraught/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [To take no account of oneself, but always to think well and highly of others is the highest wisdom and perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/to-take-no-account-of-oneself-but-always-to-think-well-and-highly-of/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [It is easier not to speak a word at all than to speak more words than we should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/it-is-easier-not-to-speak-a-word-at-all-than-to-speak-more-words-than/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Be Yourself -The man who is neither bent upon pleasing his fellows nor afraid of offending them will enjoy great peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/be-yourself-the-man-who-is-neither-bent-upon-pleasing-his-fellows-nor/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [“0 true and heavenly grace, without which our own merits are nothing, and our natural gifts of no account! Neither arts nor riches, beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/0-true-and-heavenly-grace-without-which-our-own-merits-are-nothing/) [Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [If you would endeavor, like men of courage, to stand in the battle, surely we would feel the favorable assistance of God from heaven.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/if-you-would-endeavor-like-men-of-courage-to-stand-in-the-battle/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [“No man safely goeth abroad who loveth not to rest at home. No man safely talketh but he who loveth to hold his peace.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/no-man-safely-goeth-abroad-who-loveth-not-to-rest-at-home-no-man/) [Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [“Nature has a relish for knowing secrets and hearing news. It wishes to appear abroad and to have sense experiences. It wishes to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/nature-has-a-relish-for-knowing-secrets-and-hearing-news-it-wishes-to/) [Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Love is watchful. Sleeping, it does not slumber. Wearied, it is not tired. Pressed, it is not straitened. Alarmed, it is not confused, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/love-is-watchful-sleeping-it-does-not-slumber-wearied-it-is-not-tired/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [If you bear the cross gladly, it will bear you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/if-you-bear-the-cross-gladly-it-will-bear-you/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Be thankful for the smallest blessing, and you will be worthy to receive greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/be-thankful-for-the-smallest-blessing-and-you-will-be-worthy-to/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [If you cast away one cross, you will certainly find another, and perhaps a heavier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/if-you-cast-away-one-cross-you-will-certainly-find-another-and/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Dispose thyself to patience rather than to comfort, and to the bearing of the cross rather than to gladness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/dispose-thyself-to-patience-rather-than-to-comfort-and-to-the-bearing/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) [Explore all 387 Thomas à Kempis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) ## More Humility quotes > [You just have to stay humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-jackson/you-just-have-to-stay-humble/) [Lamar Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-jackson/) > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [It's a great lesson in modesty that you realize you're illiterate in a field that you think you're an expert in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wim-wenders/it-s-a-great-lesson-in-modesty-that-you-realize-you-re-illiterate-in/) [Wim Wenders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wim-wenders/) > [The more holy, the more humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-more-holy-the-more-humble/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess: Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayer-of-an-anonymous-abbess-lord-thou-knowest-better-than-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But, like all indulgences that are valued not just for their product but for their process, the sento will never entirely disappear. For in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/but-like-all-indulgences-that-are-valued-not-just-for-their-product/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“Humility and Trustworthiness are not rooted only in Presentation, Voice modulation or Nice Jorgan but in Actions and Intentions that speak louder than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venkat-gandhi/humility-and-trustworthiness-are-not-rooted-only-in-presentation/) [Venkat Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venkat-gandhi/) > [I think being vulnerable paves the way for humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-sadowski/i-think-being-vulnerable-paves-the-way-for-humility/) [Jonathan Sadowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-sadowski/) > [I need to look like an idiot at least twice a day to keep myself humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-need-to-look-like-an-idiot-at-least-twice-a-day-to-keep-myself/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [“I am waiting for the meek to be blessed and inherit the earth... without taxes”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/i-am-waiting-for-the-meek-to-be-blessed-and-inherit-the-earth-without/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [Rukmini Devi was an icon for all the Bharat Natyam students at Kalakshetra. I grew up watching her at dance school and I associate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/rukmini-devi-was-an-icon-for-all-the-bharat-natyam-students-at/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [“Oh where is the noble face of modesty, or the strength of virtue, now that blasphemy is in power and men have put justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/oh-where-is-the-noble-face-of-modesty-or-the-strength-of-virtue-now/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Modesty is the gentle art of enhancing your charm by pretending not to be aware of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-herford/modesty-is-the-gentle-art-of-enhancing-your-charm-by-pretending-not/) [Oliver Herford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-herford/) > [How arrogant - how very far from humility - would be the self-satisfied, smug assurance that God, a tidy-up-after-us God will come and clean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-whitehouse/how-arrogant-how-very-far-from-humility-would-be-the-self-satisfied/) [Sheldon Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-whitehouse/) > [To be part of the creation, I must act humbly. I'll take that over a goddess any day!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-o-hara/to-be-part-of-the-creation-i-must-act-humbly-i-ll-take-that-over-a/) [Maureen O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-o-hara/) [Browse all 4,759 Humility quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If you desire to know or learn anything to your advantage, then take delight in being unknown and unregarded. A true understanding and humble estimate of oneself is the highest and most valuable of all lessons. 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