Ἐν πίθῳ τὴν κεραμίαν μανθάνειν
to learn the potter's craft on a wine-jar
Translated by David Whitehead21 Apr 2003Vetting: high5 revisions
Translation
A proverbial saying in reference to those going beyond their first lessons and clutching at greater things. That is, disregarding their first lessons and striving for the final ones.
Greek original · Adler’s text
Ἐν πίθῳ τὴν κεραμίαν μανθάνειν· παροιμία ἐπὶ τῶν τὰς πρώτας μὲν μαθήσεις ὑπερβαινόντων, ἁπτομένων δὲ τῶν μειζόνων. τουτέστι τῶν παριέντων τὰς πρώτας μαθήσεις καὶ ἐφιεμένων τῶν τελευταίων.
Betacode
*)en pi/qw| th\n kerami/an manqa/nein: paroimi/a e)pi\ tw=n ta\s prw/tas me\n maqh/seis u(perbaino/ntwn, a(ptome/nwn de\ tw=n meizo/nwn. toute/sti tw=n parie/ntwn ta\s prw/tas maqh/seis kai\ e)fieme/nwn tw=n teleutai/wn.