Imam (as) encouraged learning and called for it because it was one of the most successful tools in growing thoughts.
Once, he saw a youth whose cloth was affected by the sign of pen and he was hiding it shaming from the Imam (as).
Imam (as) rejected this action and told him the following:
“Do not feel disturbed about the affects of pen and ink, as they are perfumes of men and jewels of authors.”
Imam (as) also looked at a youth hiding his cloth from him, which had the sign of pen on it.
Imam said: “The sign of pen on a cloth is the mark of chivalry.”
THE LIFE OF IMAM JAF’AR AL-SADIQ (AS) – BAQIR SHARIF AL-QURASHI