Provocative thoughts

[Vexari]

Among the innumerable mortifications which waylay human arrogance

on every side may well be reckoned our ignorance

of the most common objects and effects, a defect of which we

become more sensible by every attempt to supply it.

Vulgar and inactive minds confound familiarity with knowledge

and conceive themselves informed of the whole nature of things

when they are shown their form or told their use;

but the speculatist,

who is not content with superficial views,

harasses himself with fruitless curiosity,

and still, as he inquires more,

perceives only that he knows less..


~ Samuel Johnson ~