A little learning? Dangerous?
A little learning? Dangerous?
Yes, so it seems! Our topical sign on Herring Road contains a quote from the 18th century satirical poet Alexander Pope (1688-1744). In his Essay on Criticism (1711), he wrote: "A little learning is a dang'rous thing; drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring." The Pierian spring in Greek mythology was the metaphorical fount of knowledge.
For Pope, knowing a little about something can lead one to believe they know more than they do, which can lead to error and presumption. Either go in deep, or stay away! For Dunmore Lang College, the quote is a prompt to deepen one's learning, eg by studying for an undergraduate or postgraduate degree.
Ironically, the quote today can also take an opposite meaning - of the radical power of learning to transform lives and communities. Which is why some cultures or powerbrokers are averse to educating their young women and men.