A little knowledge is a dangerous thing

Meaning: Partial knowledge breeds overconfidence and can be more harmful than honest ignorance.

Origin: Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism (1711): 'A little learning is a dangerous thing.'

Translations

French: Un peu de connaissance est une chose dangereuse (literally: A little knowledge is a dangerous thing)
Spanish: Un poco de conocimiento es algo peligroso (literally: A little knowledge is a dangerous thing)
Japanese: 少しの知識は危険なものだ (Sukoshi no chishiki wa kiken na mono da) (literally: A little knowledge is a dangerous thing)

The frog in the well knows not the great ocean — Those with limited experience cannot comprehend the vastness of the wider world.
A good beginning makes a good ending — How you start something largely determines how it will finish; preparation and intention…
He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened — Understanding others requires wisdom, but self-knowledge is the highest form of understan…
Measure twice, cut once — Take time to plan carefully before acting, to avoid costly and irreversible mistakes.
The best mirror is an old friend — True friends who have known us for a long time see us most clearly and honestly.
He who fights with monsters should look to it that he does not become one — In struggling against evil, we risk adopting the very characteristics we oppose.

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