The more you know, the more you realize you don't know
Meaning: True knowledge reveals the vastness of what remains to be learned.
Origin: Attributed to Socrates and Aristotle in various forms; a cornerstone of Western philosophical humility.
Translations
- French: Plus on sait, plus on réalise qu'on ne sait pas (literally: The more we know, the more we realize we don't know)
- Spanish: Cuanto más sabes, más te das cuenta de lo que no sabes (literally: The more you know, the more you realize what you don't know)
- Japanese: 知れば知るほど、知らないことがわかる (Shireba shiruhodo, shiranai koto ga wakaru) (literally: The more you know, the more you understand what you don't know)
More proverbs about Wisdom
- The greatest wealth is health — Good health is more valuable than any material possession or social status.
- Eagles don't catch flies — People of high purpose and ambition don't concern themselves with petty matters.
- You cannot step into the same river twice — Everything is constantly in flux; no experience can ever truly be repeated.
- A little knowledge is a dangerous thing — Partial knowledge breeds overconfidence and can be more harmful than honest ignorance.
- 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…
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