Too much to know is to know nought but fame; and every godfather can give a name.
 William Shakespeare, Love's Labour's Lost (1598). copy citation

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Author William Shakespeare
Source Love's Labour's Lost
Topic fame
Date 1598
Language English
Reference
Note Written between 1595 and 1596
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1109/pg1109-images.html

Context

“Save base authority from others' books. These earthly godfathers of heaven's lights That give a name to every fixed star Have no more profit of their shining nights Than those that walk and wot not what they are. Too much to know is to know nought but fame; And every godfather can give a name. King. How well he's read, to reason against reading!
DUMAIN. Proceeded well, to stop all good proceeding!
LONGAVILLE. He weeds the corn, and still lets grow the weeding.
BEROWNE.” source

Meaning and analysis

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