Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge.
Victor warns Walton that pure ambition, without foresight, can ruin a life. The line lands as a confession dressed as advice: Victor wants to believe his suffering can still serve a purpose. The word “dangerous” shifts knowledge from neutral tool to moral hazard, preparing us for the disasters he’ll recount. As foreshadowing, it primes the reader to watch every “breakthrough” with suspicion. Emotionally, the doubt comes through as a tremor—he can’t undo what he’s done, but he can try to stop another man. It resonates because many of us chase goals that look noble until their costs become human.