Men know how to read printed books; they do not know how…
““Men know how to read printed books; they do not know how to read the unprinted ones. They can play on a stringed harp, but not on a stringless one. Applying themselves to the superficial instead of the profound, how should they understand music or poetry? From the Saikontan , by Kojisei (circa 1600) cited in Haiku by Robert Blyth, circa 1947 Tokyo, p. 73. ””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Printed books are readable, but unprinted knowledge, like music without string, remains inaccessible, urging deeper understanding beyond surface.
In simple terms: Unwritten knowledge is hard to grasp.
Seek depth beyond superficial learning.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- academic study
- self‑education
- creative arts
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you learn what is not directly presented?
- What does the stringless harp symbolize?
May oversimplify complex ideas.