“We smile at the ignorance of the savage who cuts down the tree in order to reach its fruit; but the same blunder is made by every person who is over eager and impatient in the pursuit of pleasure.”
Cite this quote
APA
“We smile at the ignorance of the savage who cuts down the tree in order to reach its fruit; but the same blunder is made by every person who is over eager and impatient in the pursuit of pleasure.” [Quotation attributed to William Ellery Channing]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/38151-we-smile-at-the-ignorance-of-the-savage/
MLA
“We smile at the ignorance of the savage who cuts down the tree in order to reach its fruit; but the same blunder is made by every person who is over eager and impatient in the pursuit of pleasure.” Attributed to William Ellery Channing. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/38151-we-smile-at-the-ignorance-of-the-savage/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.
Chicago
“We smile at the ignorance of the savage who cuts down the tree in order to reach its fruit; but the same blunder is made by every person who is over eager and impatient in the pursuit of pleasure.” Attributed to William Ellery Channing. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/38151-we-smile-at-the-ignorance-of-the-savage/.