proverb · Words worth keeping
Learn till old, live till old and there is still one third not learnt.
Learn till old, live till old and there is still one third not learnt.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying keeps learning necessary into old age. Its remaining one third makes incomplete knowledge part of a long life.
Example
An experienced worker learns a new method without treating their earlier knowledge as complete or useless.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The fraction gives the remaining work a memorable shape, not a measured proportion. A useful application can encourage curiosity at any age while recognising how much someone already knows. The phrase does not rank people’s worth by how much they study.
When to use it
Use it to encourage continuing curiosity and learning.
Keep in mind
One third is not a measured knowledge deficit or a judgment of older people.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown