This famous line from a certain Pope means that one should either thoroughly master a subject or not know it at all. It emphasises the danger of knowing only a little about a particular branch of knowledge.As far as certain subjects are concerned, complete ignorance is better than superficial knowledge.
A little learning, of course, is not dangerous, provided the person concerned that he does not know much.But the world is full of vain and conceited people, and a little learning is likely to turn their heads.As soon as such people acquire a smattering of a subject, they are puffed up and feel superior to others and begin to behave like they are experts.In fact, most people who parade their learning and make a lot of fuss about it have but a nodding acquaintance with the subject.Really wise men like Socrates and Newton were humble because they knew that they did not knew much, compared to infinite to be known.A little learning, therefore is dangerous to vain people to possess it.It breeds in them likes an illusion of thorough knowledge, warps their sense of reality, and prevents them forth acquiring more knowledge.
What is worse, a little learning is dangerous to society. This is quite evident in field of medicine. A quack who poses as an expert may kill the patient or worsen his disease. Disasters of different kind are wrought by quacks in various fields of life:- law, engineering, politics and teaching.What incalculable harm to young minds, for example: can be done by teachers by semi-educated teachers who are slightly confused themselves! Politics, in particular, is dominated by semi-educated people who think who think they are omniscient, but who cause untold harm to public life.
The truth of Pope's line is more evident today than it was in 18th century when it was penned in. Ours is the age of specialization.With specialization one can touch the extreme heights of success and be worthy to the society.
A little learning, of course, is not dangerous, provided the person concerned that he does not know much.But the world is full of vain and conceited people, and a little learning is likely to turn their heads.As soon as such people acquire a smattering of a subject, they are puffed up and feel superior to others and begin to behave like they are experts.In fact, most people who parade their learning and make a lot of fuss about it have but a nodding acquaintance with the subject.Really wise men like Socrates and Newton were humble because they knew that they did not knew much, compared to infinite to be known.A little learning, therefore is dangerous to vain people to possess it.It breeds in them likes an illusion of thorough knowledge, warps their sense of reality, and prevents them forth acquiring more knowledge.
What is worse, a little learning is dangerous to society. This is quite evident in field of medicine. A quack who poses as an expert may kill the patient or worsen his disease. Disasters of different kind are wrought by quacks in various fields of life:- law, engineering, politics and teaching.What incalculable harm to young minds, for example: can be done by teachers by semi-educated teachers who are slightly confused themselves! Politics, in particular, is dominated by semi-educated people who think who think they are omniscient, but who cause untold harm to public life.
The truth of Pope's line is more evident today than it was in 18th century when it was penned in. Ours is the age of specialization.With specialization one can touch the extreme heights of success and be worthy to the society.
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