Bierce, Ambrose -- “Book-learning,” “Devil’s Dictionary” column, San Francisco Wasp (1881-05-14)

Dave — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 17:01:28 +0000

BOOK-LEARNING, n. The dunce’s derisive term for all knowledge that transcends his own impenitent ignorance.

Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?) American writer and journalist
“Book-learning,” “Devil’s Dictionary” column, San Francisco Wasp (1881-05-14)
(Source)

Not collected in later books.

Chesterfield (Lord) -- Letter to his son, #112 (4 Oct 1746)

Dave — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 12:54:04 +0000

Do not imagine that the knowledge, which I so much recommend to you, is confined to books, pleasing, useful, and necessary as that knowledge is: but I comprehend in it the great knowledge of the world, still more necessary than that of books. In truth, they assist one another reciprocally; and no man will have either perfectly, who has not both. The knowledge of the world is only to be acquired in the world and not in a closet. Books alone will never teach it you; but they will suggest many things to your observation, which might, otherwise escape you; and your own observations upon mankind, when compared with those which you will find in books, will help you to fix the true point.

Lord Chesterfield (1694-1773) English statesman, wit [Philip Dormer Stanhope]
Letter to his son, #112 (4 Oct 1746)
(Source)

WIST Quotations

Bierce, Ambrose -- “Book-learning,” “Devil’s Dictionary” column, San Francisco Wasp (1881-05-14)

Chesterfield (Lord) -- Letter to his son, #112 (4 Oct 1746)