I have never met a man so ignorant that I could not learn something… — Galileo Galilei · Smartyfair

I have never met a man so ignorant that I could not learn something from him.

Galileo Galilei1564–1642 · scientist · 1500s-1600s ItalyGalileo Galilei was an Italian astronomer and physicist, born in 1564 — the same year Michelangelo died — who built one of the first powerful telescopes and used it to discover moons orbiting Jupiter.5 quotes

Source not found yetWisdomKindnessAncient

In plain words

There is something to learn from absolutely everyone.

Look up a word

Where these words come from

How sure this is: 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.
What turned up: 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.
Work: quoted in Will Durant's The Story of Civilization
Occasion: 1935 · attributed reflection on humility and learning from everyone
Sources checked: en.wikiquote.orgChecked using claude-sonnet-5, 21 August 2026Attributed section, cited only to Will Durant, The Story of Civilization (1935)

Nothing made from these words yet — Storyfaire is where they get made.

More from Galileo Galilei

In the sciences the authority of thousands of opinions is not worth as much as one tiny spark of reason in an individual man.

Galileo Galilei All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.

Galileo Galilei If 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 Galilei There is, in nature, perhaps nothing older than motion.

Galileo Galilei

More on wisdom

Treat all men alike. Give them all the same law. Give them all an even chance to live and grow.

Chief Joseph Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.

Benito Juárez As to diseases, make a habit of two things — to help, or at least, to do no harm.

Hippocrates In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.

Sun Tzu The wound is the place where the light enters you.

Rumi You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.

Marcus Aurelius