Why, then, ' answered the squire, 'I am very sorry you have given him so much learning; for, if he cannot get his living by that, it will rather spoil him for anything else; and your other son, who can hardly write his name, will do more at ploughing and sowing, and is in a better condition, than he.' And indeed so it proved; for the poor lad, not finding friends to maintain him in his learning, as he had expected, and being unwilling to work, fell to drinking, though he was a very sober lad before; and in a short time, partly with grief, and partly with good liquor, fell into a consumption, and died. Henry Fielding
About This Quote

This story is about the character of Will, a young man who is very intelligent but does not know how to make income. He meets the squire who is very rich and asks him for money for his education. The squire gives him some money, but tells him if he cannot make money with it he should learn a trade. But Will does not care for any trade, because of his intelligence.

He asks the squire to give him some money, but the squire refuses saying he cannot spend more on food than what he must. So Will drinks and dies. You can also see another quote on "Why do you want your son to be stupid?" on my profile page.

Source: Joseph Andrews

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