--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Learning is, in too many cases, but a…" description: "\"Learning is, in too many cases, but a foil to common sense; a substitute for true knowledge. Books are less often made use of as spectacles to look at ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a33/william-hazlitt-326_book_learning-is-in-too-many-cases-but-a-foil_1172417.png" --- # Learning is, in too many cases, but a foil to common… ![“Learning is, in too many cases, but a foil to common sense; a substitute for true knowledge. Books are less often made use of as spectacles to look at nature with, than as blinds to keep out its strong light and shifting scenery from weak eyes and indolent dispositions. The learned are mere…” quote by William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a33/william-hazlitt-326_book_learning-is-in-too-many-cases-but-a-foil_1172417.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a33/william-hazlitt-326_book_learning-is-in-too-many-cases-but-a-foil_1172417.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a33/william-hazlitt-326_book_learning-is-in-too-many-cases-but-a-foil_1172417.png) > “Learning is, in too many cases, but a foil to common sense; a substitute for true knowledge. Books are less often made use of as spectacles to look at nature with, than as blinds to keep out its strong light and shifting scenery from weak eyes and indolent dispositions. The learned are mere literary drudges.” [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Books often replace direct experience, becoming barriers rather than windows to reality. **In simple terms:** Books can block real understanding. Key Takeaway Balance reading with observation and critical thinking. Themes education perception knowledge Mood analytical skeptical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - studying - research - travel - hands‑on learning Key Concepts critical thinking experience literacy Questions to Reflect On - When have you let a book shape your view too strongly? - How can you verify written knowledge with real‑world evidence? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on texts can limit practical insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Common sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-sense/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Scenery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scenery/) [True knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-knowledge/) ## Related quotes > [Learning is, in too many cases, but a foil to common sense; a substitute for true knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/learning-is-in-too-many-cases-but-a-foil-to-common-sense-a-substitute/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [With paper printed books, you have certain freedoms. You can acquire the book anonymously by paying cash, which is the way I always buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/with-paper-printed-books-you-have-certain-freedoms-you-can-acquire/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [Go to the bookstore and look at how many bookshelves are filled with books trying to explain how to work the devices. We don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/go-to-the-bookstore-and-look-at-how-many-bookshelves-are-filled-with/) [Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/) > [I love picture books - with picture books, you can use words and pictures as a double act, even tell two different versions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mini-grey/i-love-picture-books-with-picture-books-you-can-use-words-and/) [Mini Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mini-grey/) > [Indeed, the best books have a use, like sticks and stones, which is above or beside their design, not anticipated in the preface,not concluded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/indeed-the-best-books-have-a-use-like-sticks-and-stones-which-is/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Ranganathan's 5 Laws: Books are for use. Books are for all. Every book its reader, or every reader his book. Save the time of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-r-ranganathan/ranganathan-s-5-laws-books-are-for-use-books-are-for-all-every-book/) [S. R. Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-r-ranganathan/) > [Look for knowledge not in books but in things themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilbert/look-for-knowledge-not-in-books-but-in-things-themselves/) [William Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilbert/) > [After all manner of professors have done their best for us, the place we are to get knowledge is in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/after-all-manner-of-professors-have-done-their-best-for-us-the-place/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [“Knowledge is not in books, or churches. Knowledge is directing all your energy into the self-realization of uniting your selves through forgiveness into one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patrick-lane/knowledge-is-not-in-books-or-churches-knowledge-is-directing-all-your/) [James Patrick Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patrick-lane/) > [Knowledge not only from books, the passions that motivate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/knowledge-not-only-from-books-the-passions-that-motivate/) Mak\_786 > [“Knowledge, you may get from books but wisdom is trapped within you, release it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismat-ahmed-shaikh/knowledge-you-may-get-from-books-but-wisdom-is-trapped-within-you/) [Ismat Ahmed Shaikh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismat-ahmed-shaikh/) > [“There is enough knowledge in the books to explain the existing, your knowledge must inspire what is possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/there-is-enough-knowledge-in-the-books-to-explain-the-existing-your/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I conceive a knowledge of books is the basis upon which other knowledge is to be built.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/i-conceive-a-knowledge-of-books-is-the-basis-upon-which-other/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Books ARE a form of political action. Books are knowledge. Books are reflection. Books change your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/books-are-a-form-of-political-action-books-are-knowledge-books-are/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [His knowledge of books had in some degree diminished his knowledge of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/his-knowledge-of-books-had-in-some-degree-diminished-his-knowledge-of/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) ## More by William Hazlitt > [First impressions are often the truest, as we find (not infrequently) to our cost, when we have been wheedled out of them by plausible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/first-impressions-are-often-the-truest-as-we-find-not-infrequently-to/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The art of life is to know how to enjoy a little and to endure very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-art-of-life-is-to-know-how-to-enjoy-a-little-and-to-endure-very/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [We are thankful for good-will rather than for services, for the motive than the quantum of favor received.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/we-are-thankful-for-good-will-rather-than-for-services-for-the-motive/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The discussing the characters and foibles of common friends is a great sweetness and cement of friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-discussing-the-characters-and-foibles-of-common-friends-is-a/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Want of principle is power. 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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. 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