“It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing.”
- c. 4 BC – AD 65
- Roman
- Philosopher, Statesman, Dramatist, Stoic Thinker, Advisor to Emperor Nero
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Quote
“It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing.”
Explanation
Even seemingly trivial knowledge is more valuable than complete ignorance. Seneca the Younger wryly acknowledges that not all learning is practical or life-changing, yet affirms that the act of knowing—even what appears useless—cultivates the mind and keeps it alive. To know something, however minor, is still to be engaged in thought and growth.
This aligns with Stoic appreciation for intellectual development and the disciplined use of reason, though Seneca himself sometimes criticized the study of trivia when it distracted from moral philosophy. Still, he recognized that the pursuit of knowledge—however small—keeps one mentally active, and that the habit of inquiry can lead, eventually, to deeper understanding and virtue.
In today’s information-rich world, this quote speaks to the tension between curiosity and utility. Not all facts will change your life, but learning itself exercises the intellect. Seneca’s insight reminds us that a mind full of “useless” knowledge is still awake and reaching—whereas an empty one is inert. Better to know too much than to know nothing at all.
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