Learning is light, as the saying is, and ignorance is darkness.
 Anton Chekhov, The Steppe (1888). copy citation

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Author Anton Chekhov
Source The Steppe
Topic darkness ignorance
Date 1888
Language English
Reference
Note Translated by Constance Garnett
Weblink https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Steppe

Context

“no one is taking you by force! "Never mind, never mind, Yegor boy, never mind," Father Christopher muttered rapidly—"never mind, my boy. . . . Call upon God. . . . You are not going for your harm, but for your good. Learning is light, as the saying is, and ignorance is darkness. . . . That is so, truly." "Do you want to go back?" asked Kuzmitchov. "Yes, . . . yes, . . ." answered Yegorushka, sobbing. "Well, you'd better go back then. Anyway, you are going for nothing; it's a day's journey for a spoonful of porridge."” source