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Pierian spring house of cards new single 2016
In Greek mythology, the Pierian Spring of Macedonia was sacred to the Muses. As the metaphorical source of knowledge of art and science, it was popularized by a couplet in Alexander Pope's poem "An Essay on Criticism" (1709): "A little learning is a dang'rous thing; / Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring."
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The Pierian spring is sometimes confused with the Castalian Spring.
Pope
Lines 215 to 232 of Pope's poem read:
"A little learning is a dang'rous thing;Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,And drinking largely sobers us again.Fir'd at first sight with what the Muse imparts,In fearless youth we tempt the heights of Arts,While from the bounded level of our mindShort views we take, nor see the lengths behind;But more advanc'd, behold with strange surpriseNew distant scenes of endless science rise!So pleas'd at first the towering Alps we try,Mount o'er the vales, and seem to tread the sky,Th' eternal snows appear already past,And the first clouds and mountains seem the last;But, those attain'd, we tremble to surveyThe growing labours of the lengthen'd way,Th' increasing prospects tire our wand'ring eyes,Hills peep o'er hills, and Alps on Alps arise!"In Greek mythology, it was believed that drinking from the Pierian Spring would bring you great knowledge and inspiration. Thus, Pope is explaining how if you only learn a little it can "intoxicate" you in such a way that makes you feel as though you know a great deal. However, when "drinking largely sobers" you, you become aware of how little you truly know.