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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…” quote by Kojisei
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““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. ””

Kojisei

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.

Key Takeaway

Seek depth beyond superficial learning.

Themes

knowledge depth perception learning music

Mood

thoughtful philosophical inquisitive

Type

Books:1 Haiku:1 Harp:1 Japan:0 Poetry:1 Words:1 Understand Music:1 Stringed Harp:1 Read Unprinted:1 Play Stringed:0

When to use this quote

  • academic study
  • self‑education
  • creative arts

Key Concepts

philosophy education critical thinking

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you learn what is not directly presented?
  • What does the stringless harp symbolize?
A Different Perspective

May oversimplify complex ideas.

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