“Frivolity is inborn, conceit acquired by education.”
- January 3, 106 BC – December 7, 43 BC
- Roman
- Orator, Philosopher, Statesman, Lawyer, Author
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Quote
“Frivolity is inborn, conceit acquired by education.”
Explanation
Cicero distinguishes between two types of human flaws: frivolity, which he sees as a natural and perhaps harmless trait, and conceit, which he argues is a corruption introduced through misguided education or superficial learning. Frivolity may reflect a lighthearted or careless nature, but conceit arises when education leads not to humility or wisdom, but to arrogance and self-importance.
This view reveals Cicero’s concern for moral and intellectual formation, especially the dangers of an education that inflates pride rather than cultivates virtue. For Cicero, learning should refine character, not foster superiority. He believed that true education is measured not by how much one knows, but by how well one understands one’s limits and responsibilities. When education loses its grounding in ethics and humility, it produces conceit instead of wisdom.
In the modern world, Cicero’s observation remains relevant in discussions about intellectual elitism, performative knowledge, and the misuse of education for status rather than substance. His quote reminds us that genuine learning should foster modesty and depth, not vanity. Frivolity may be forgivable, but conceit born of education is a betrayal of its highest purpose—to make us better, not just smarter.
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