The Analects

by Confucius

The reason is this. The verb ‘to learn’ needs an expressed object. For instance, we do not say, ‘He learns.’ We can, of course, say, ‘He learns quickly,’ or ‘He is willing to learn,’ but these are special cases where the focal point of the sentence is not in the word ‘learn’. We do, on the other hand, say, ‘He studies.’ There is, however, another difference between ‘learning’ and ‘studying’. We tend to ‘learn’ some things but ‘study’ others. For instance, a child learns to walk but an entomologist studies the behaviour of ants. We learn something practical; we study something theoretical. In learning the focus is on the learner; in studying the focus is on the subject. In learning something new, a man improves himself. He either acquires a new skill or. becomes more proficient in an old one. In studying, a man acquires new knowledge but this new knowledge need not make any difference to him as a practical man.