I have never met a man so ignorant that I could not learn something from him.
In plain words
There is something to learn from absolutely everyone.
Where these words come from
- 45% sureLots of sources credit Galileo Galilei with this, and they agree with each other. The book or the speech it first came from hasn't turned up yet.
- Widely attributed to Galileo; only sourcing found is Will Durant's The Story of Civilization (1935), a posthumous secondary work, not a primary Galileo source.
- quoted in Will Durant's The Story of Civilization
- 1935 · attributed reflection on humility and learning from everyone
More from Galileo Galilei
See allIn the sciences the authority of thousands of opinions is not worth as much as one tiny spark of reason in an individual man.
Galileo GalileiAfter the Moon, I frequently observed other heavenly bodies, both fixed stars and planets, with incredible delight; and, when I saw their very great number, I began to consider about a method by which I might be able to measure their distances apart, and at length I found one.Galileo GalileiThe Earth, with fair and grateful exchange, pays back to the Moon an illumination like that which it receives from the Moon nearly the whole time during the darkest gloom of night.Galileo GalileiAll truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.Galileo GalileiIf you could see the earth illuminated when you were in a place as dark as night, it would look to you more splendid than the moon.Galileo GalileiThere is, in nature, perhaps nothing older than motion.Galileo Galilei
Galileo GalileiAfter the Moon, I frequently observed other heavenly bodies, both fixed stars and planets, with incredible delight; and, when I saw their very great number, I began to consider about a method by which I might be able to measure their distances apart, and at length I found one.Galileo GalileiThe Earth, with fair and grateful exchange, pays back to the Moon an illumination like that which it receives from the Moon nearly the whole time during the darkest gloom of night.Galileo GalileiAll truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.Galileo GalileiIf you could see the earth illuminated when you were in a place as dark as night, it would look to you more splendid than the moon.Galileo GalileiThere is, in nature, perhaps nothing older than motion.Galileo GalileiMore on wisdom
Treat all men alike. Give them all the same law. Give them all an even chance to live and grow.
Chief JosephAmong individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.
Benito JuárezAs to diseases, make a habit of two things — to help, or at least, to do no harm.
HippocratesIt is hard to say whether it is more dishonourable for the receiver to disown a benefit, or for the giver to demand a return of it: for a benefit is a loan, the repayment of which depends merely upon the good feeling of the debtor.
SenecaTo misuse a benefit like a spendthrift is most shameful, because we do not need our wealth but only our intention to set us free from the obligation of it; for a benefit is repaid by being acknowledged.SenecaWe find many men ungrateful, yet we make more men so, because at one time we harshly and reproachfully demand some return for our bounty, at another we are fickle and regret what we have given, at another we are peevish and apt to find fault with trifles.Seneca
Chief JosephAmong individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.Benito JuárezAs to diseases, make a habit of two things — to help, or at least, to do no harm.HippocratesIt is hard to say whether it is more dishonourable for the receiver to disown a benefit, or for the giver to demand a return of it: for a benefit is a loan, the repayment of which depends merely upon the good feeling of the debtor.SenecaTo misuse a benefit like a spendthrift is most shameful, because we do not need our wealth but only our intention to set us free from the obligation of it; for a benefit is repaid by being acknowledged.SenecaWe find many men ungrateful, yet we make more men so, because at one time we harshly and reproachfully demand some return for our bounty, at another we are fickle and regret what we have given, at another we are peevish and apt to find fault with trifles.Seneca