David Rakoff

Let's face it: professing a deep interest in movies, the absolutely dominant global art form of the last century, is at this point like professing an interest in air. Passion is nice. Erudition is admirable. But it's like that moment when good manners cross over into meaningless etiquette.

Canadian Writer

Joanne Harris

In the old days of literature, only the very thick-skinned - or the very brilliant - dared enter the arena of literary criticism. To criticise a person's work required equal measures of erudition and wit, and inferior critics were often the butt of satire and ridicule.

British Author

Robert Baden-Powell

Erudition - that is, reading, writing, and arithmetic - is taught in the schools; but where is the more important quality, character, taught? Nowhere in particular. There is no authorized training for children in character.

English Soldier

Richard Attenborough

I'm not an intellectual in any sense, I have constraints of erudition. I'm not able to deal with things outside my ken, and that makes me irritable. I'm irritable about the fact that I never went to university.

English Actor

James Madison

The capacity of the female mind for studies of the highest order cannot be doubted, having been sufficiently illustrated by its works of genius, of erudition, and of science.

American President

Dawn Steel

I felt more comfortable in TV than in the film world where the players were more erudite and intellectual.

American Businesswoman

Douglas Dunn

A poet's cultural baggage and erudition can interfere with a poem.

Scottish Poet

Ambrose Bierce

Erudition - dust shaken out of a book into an empty skull.

American Journalist

Georg C. Lichtenberg

Erudition can produce foliage without bearing fruit.

German Scientist

Tucker Carlson

Almost nobody gets rich or erudite overnight.

Use 'erudite' to express admiration for someone's deep knowledge in a respectful way.

Positive Connotation

The term 'erudite' is mostly used in formal contexts like academic discussions or professional settings.

Usually Formal

'Erudite' is not commonly used in everyday language; it may sound too sophisticated in casual conversations.

Not for Everyday Use

'Erudite' suggests someone has read widely or studied various subjects in depth, rather than just being smart.

Breadth of Reading

The word 'erudite' fits best with academic or intellectual discussions where thorough knowledge is expected.

Academic Settings

Using 'erudite' can imply a level of expertise or specialization in a subject, not just casual familiarity.

Expertise Implication

 The whales were getting killed; they wanted to put an end to it. One of the ways they wanted to do it was to put a tracking chip inside one of the whales. But to personify the movement, they wanted to name it. So in true web fashion, they put together a poll, where they had a bunch of very erudite, very thoughtful, cultured names.