--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is the best book ever written by any…" description: "\"This is the best book ever written by any man on the wrong side of a question of which he is profoundly ignorant.\" — Thomas B. Macaulay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb2/thomas-b-macaulay-1980_book_this-is-the-best-book-ever-written-by-an_634678.png" --- # This is the best book ever written by any man on the wrong… ![“This is the best book ever written by any man on the wrong side of a question of which he is profoundly ignorant.” quote by Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb2/thomas-b-macaulay-1980_book_this-is-the-best-book-ever-written-by-an_634678.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb2/thomas-b-macaulay-1980_book_this-is-the-best-book-ever-written-by-an_634678.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb2/thomas-b-macaulay-1980_book_this-is-the-best-book-ever-written-by-an_634678.png) > “This is the best book ever written by any man on the wrong side of a question of which he is profoundly ignorant.” [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He criticizes a work he deems profoundly ignorant, suggesting the author lacks essential understanding of the subject. **In simple terms:** The book is written by someone who doesn't grasp the topic. Key Takeaway Question the expertise behind the writing. Themes literature ignorance critique knowledge authority Mood skeptical analytical critical Type literary philosophical evaluative When to use this quote - reading groups - academic review - publishing decisions - educational curricula Key Concepts epistemology authorial intent critical analysis Questions to Reflect On - What standards determine true expertise? - Can ignorance be a deliberate literary device? A Different Perspective The assessment may reflect personal bias rather than objective merit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [There's a Harvard man on the wrong side of every question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbott-lawrence-lowell/there-s-a-harvard-man-on-the-wrong-side-of-every-question/) [Abbott Lawrence Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbott-lawrence-lowell/) > [While some of us may know than others about certain things, it is the thinnest slice of all that is, or could be known.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-osgood/while-some-of-us-may-know-than-others-about-certain-things-it-is-the/) [Charles Osgood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-osgood/) > [To me, the right approach is to say we are profoundly ignorant of these matters. We need to work on them. But to suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/to-me-the-right-approach-is-to-say-we-are-profoundly-ignorant-of/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The most solid piece of scientific truth I know of is that we are profoundly ignorant about nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/the-most-solid-piece-of-scientific-truth-i-know-of-is-that-we-are/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [It seems to me that we are profoundly ignorant of ourselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bond/it-seems-to-me-that-we-are-profoundly-ignorant-of-ourselves/) [Edward Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bond/) > [The greatest of fools is he who imposes on himself, and in his greatest concern thinks certainly he knows that which he has least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ashley-cooper-7th-earl-of-shaftesbury/the-greatest-of-fools-is-he-who-imposes-on-himself-and-in-his/) [Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ashley-cooper-7th-earl-of-shaftesbury/) > [If any man has done wrong, the harm is his own. But perhaps he has not done wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/if-any-man-has-done-wrong-the-harm-is-his-own-but-perhaps-he-has-not/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“Are we products of nature or nurture? It's the wrong question. It's not one or the other. Nor is it a combination of both.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-lotto/are-we-products-of-nature-or-nurture-it-s-the-wrong-question-it-s-not/) [Beau Lotto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-lotto/) > [No; we have been as usual asking the wrong question. It does not matter a hoot what the mockingbird on the chimney is singing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/no-we-have-been-as-usual-asking-the-wrong-question-it-does-not-matter/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“For every question, there is an answer. Where everybody fails is by asking the wrong question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diaz/for-every-question-there-is-an-answer-where-everybody-fails-is-by/) [Richard Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diaz/) > [The most serious mistakes are not being made as a result of wrong answers. The true dangerous thing is asking the wrong question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-most-serious-mistakes-are-not-being-made-as-a-result-of-wrong/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [If your horse says no, you either asked the wrong question or asked the question wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-your-horse-says-no-you-either-asked-the-wrong-question-or-asked/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The wrong question to ask of a myth is whether it is true or false. The right question is whether it is living or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-holloway/the-wrong-question-to-ask-of-a-myth-is-whether-it-is-true-or-false/) [Richard Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holloway/) > [If you are asking the wrong question, it doesn't matter how good the answer is, you aren't going to get where you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-wallis/if-you-are-asking-the-wrong-question-it-doesn-t-matter-how-good-the/) [Jim Wallis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-wallis/) > [I have been asked this question over and over again: 'Dr. Jeremiah, do you think God is finished with America?' But that is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/i-have-been-asked-this-question-over-and-over-again-dr-jeremiah-do/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) ## More by Thomas B. Macaulay > [A beggarly people, A church and no steeple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/a-beggarly-people-a-church-and-no-steeple/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [We must judge a government by its general tendencies and not by its happy accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/we-must-judge-a-government-by-its-general-tendencies-and-not-by-its/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [None of the modes by which a magistrate is appointed, popular election, the accident of the lot, or the accident of birth, affords, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/none-of-the-modes-by-which-a-magistrate-is-appointed-popular-election/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Our estimate of a character always depends much on the manner in which that character affects our own interests and passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/our-estimate-of-a-character-always-depends-much-on-the-manner-in/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Re: Robert Montgomery's Poems His writing bears the same relation to poetry which a Turkey carpet bears to a picture. There are colours in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/re-robert-montgomery-s-poems-his-writing-bears-the-same-relation-to/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Highest among those who have exhibited human nature by means of dialogue stands Shakespeare. His variety is like the variety of nature,--endless diversity, scarcely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/highest-among-those-who-have-exhibited-human-nature-by-means-of/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [The most beautiful object in the world, it will be allowed, is a beautiful woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/the-most-beautiful-object-in-the-world-it-will-be-allowed-is-a/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [The passages in which Milton has alluded to his own circumstances are perhaps read more frequently, and with more interest, than any other lines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/the-passages-in-which-milton-has-alluded-to-his-own-circumstances-are/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Oh, wherefore come ye forth in triumph from the north, With your hands, and your feet, and your raiment all red? And wherefore doth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/oh-wherefore-come-ye-forth-in-triumph-from-the-north-with-your-hands/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [It is, I believe, no exaggeration to say that all the historical information which has been collected in the Sanskrit language is less valuable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/it-is-i-believe-no-exaggeration-to-say-that-all-the-historical/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Ambrose Phillips . . . who had the honor of bringing into fashion a species of composition which has been called, after his name, Namby Pamby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/ambrose-phillips-who-had-the-honor-of-bringing-into-fashion-a-species/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [In the infancy of civilization, when our island was as savage as New Guinea, when letters and arts were still unknown to Athens, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/in-the-infancy-of-civilization-when-our-island-was-as-savage-as-new/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [In truth it may be laid down as an almost universal rule that good poets are bad critics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/in-truth-it-may-be-laid-down-as-an-almost-universal-rule-that-good/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [He had a head which statuaries loved to copy, and a foot the deformity of which the beggars in the streets mimicked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/he-had-a-head-which-statuaries-loved-to-copy-and-a-foot-the-deformity/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [The Spartan, smiting and spurning the wretched Helot, moves our disgust. But the same Spartan, calmly dressing his hair, and uttering his concise jests,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/the-spartan-smiting-and-spurning-the-wretched-helot-moves-our-disgust/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) [Explore all 193 Thomas B. Macaulay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This is the best book ever written by any man on the wrong side of a question of which he is profoundly ignorant.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas B. Macaulay" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/this-is-the-best-book-ever-written-by-any-man-on-the-wrong-side-of-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Book" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/this-is-the-best-book-ever-written-by-any-man-on-the-wrong-side-of-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb2/thomas-b-macaulay-1980_book_this-is-the-best-book-ever-written-by-an_634678.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb2/thomas-b-macaulay-1980_book_this-is-the-best-book-ever-written-by-an_634678.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb2/thomas-b-macaulay-1980_book_this-is-the-best-book-ever-written-by-an_634678.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This is the best book ever written by any man on the wrong side of a question of which he is profoundly…” — Thomas B. Macaulay", "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": "Thomas B. Macaulay", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "This is the best book ever...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/this-is-the-best-book-ever-written-by-any-man-on-the-wrong-side-of-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/this-is-the-best-book-ever-written-by-any-man-on-the-wrong-side-of-a/#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 } } ] } ```