In various talk the instructive hours they past,
Who gave the ball, or paid the visit lasts
One speaks the glory of the British queen.
And one describes a charming Indian screen;
A third interprets motions, looks, and eyes;
At every word a reputation dies. [ Pope ]

Daily life is more instructive than the most effective book. [ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ]

I have often maintained that fiction may be much more instructive than real history. [ John Foster ]

The study of proverbs may be more instructive and comprehensive than the most elaborate scheme of philosophy. [ Motherwell ]

The history of the thoughts of men, curious on account of their infinite variety, is also sometimes instructive. [ Fontanelle ]

Biographies of great, but especially of good men are most instructive and useful as helps, guides, and incentives to others. Some of the best are almost equivalent to gospels, - teaching high living, high thinking, and energetic action, for their own and the world's good. [ Samuel Smiles ]

Alchemy may be compared to the man who told his sons he had left them gold buried somewhere in his vineyard; where they by digging found no gold, but by turning up the mould, about the roots of their vines, procured a plentiful vintage. So the search and endeavors to make gold have brought many useful inventions and instructive experiments to light. [ Bacon ]