---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Proclaim not all thou knowest, all thou…"
description: "\"“Proclaim not all thou knowest, all thou owest, all thou hast, nor all thou canst.”\" — Benjamin Franklin"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d7/benjamin-franklin-65_thou-knowest_proclaim-not-all-thou-knowest-all-thou-o_985228.png"
---

#  Proclaim not all thou knowest, all thou owest, all thou…

![“Proclaim not all thou knowest, all thou owest, all thou hast, nor all thou canst.” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d7/benjamin-franklin-65_thou-knowest_proclaim-not-all-thou-knowest-all-thou-o_985228.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d7/benjamin-franklin-65_thou-knowest_proclaim-not-all-thou-knowest-all-thou-o_985228.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d7/benjamin-franklin-65_thou-knowest_proclaim-not-all-thou-knowest-all-thou-o_985228.png)

> ““Proclaim not all thou knowest, all thou owest, all thou hast, nor all thou canst.””

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Encourages restraint in sharing knowledge, debts, possessions, and abilities to avoid overcommitment and false pretenses.

**In simple terms:** Speak modestly about what you truly know and have.

Key Takeaway

Be honest about limits.

Themes

humility integrity communication

Mood

reflective cautious

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- business meetings
- personal relationships
- public speaking
- online discussions

Key Concepts

self-awareness social ethics

Questions to Reflect On

- What truths are you withholding?
- How does restraint affect trust?

A Different Perspective

May limit collaboration if overly cautious.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [Proclaim not all thou knowest, all thou knowest, all thou hast, nor all thou cans't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/proclaim-not-all-thou-knowest-all-thou-knowest-all-thou-hast-nor-all/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Proclaim not all thou knowest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/proclaim-not-all-thou-knowest/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Have more than thou showest, Speak less than thou knowest, Lend less than thou owest ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/have-more-than-thou-showest-speak-less-than-thou-knowest-lend-less-2/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [“Mark it, nuncle. Have more than thou showest, Speak less than thou knowest, Lend less than thou owest, Ride more than thou goest, Learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/mark-it-nuncle-have-more-than-thou-showest-speak-less-than-thou/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [“Have more than thou showest, Speak less than thou knowest, Lend less than thou owest, Ride more than thou goest, Learn more than thou…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/have-more-than-thou-showest-speak-less-than-thou-knowest-lend-less/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [“Thou owest nature a death.’“ Another”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-jones/thou-owest-nature-a-death-another/)

[Ernest Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-jones/)

> [“Be calm! I entreat you to hear me before you give vent to your hatred on my devoted head. Have I not suffered enough,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-shelley/be-calm-i-entreat-you-to-hear-me-before-you-give-vent-to-your-hatred/)

[Mary Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-shelley/)

> [Why, thou owest god a death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/why-thou-owest-god-a-death/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Never take a wife till thou hast a house (and a fire) to put her in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/never-take-a-wife-till-thou-hast-a-house-and-a-fire-to-put-her-in/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Study what thou art Whereof thou art a part What thou knowest of this art This is really what thou art. All that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-drummond/study-what-thou-art-whereof-thou-art-a-part-what-thou-knowest-of-this/)

[William Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-drummond/)

> [“Who am I? They often tell me I would step from my cell's confinement calmly, cheerfully, firmly, like a squire from his country-house. Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/who-am-i-they-often-tell-me-i-would-step-from-my-cell-s-confinement/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [Life, if thou knowest how to use it, is long enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/life-if-thou-knowest-how-to-use-it-is-long-enough/)

[Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

> [“Thou knowest not what bitches women are," Danny said wisely. "I do know," said Pilon. "Thou knowest not." "I do know." "Liar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/thou-knowest-not-what-bitches-women-are-danny-said-wisely-i-do-know/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“Thou knowest that these things which I say are true, and that I was never delighted in my own praise, for the secret of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boethius-d-524/thou-knowest-that-these-things-which-i-say-are-true-and-that-i-was/)

Boethius D. 524

> [“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess: Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayer-of-an-anonymous-abbess-lord-thou-knowest-better-than-myself/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Benjamin Franklin

> [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-the-affairs-of-this-world-men-are-saved-not-by-faith-but-by-the/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [I have thought that wild flowers might be the alphabet of angels, — whereby they write on hills and fields mysterious truths, which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-have-thought-that-wild-flowers-might-be-the-alphabet-of-angels/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [How do you become better tomorrow? By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly. Be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/how-do-you-become-better-tomorrow-by-improving-yourself-the-world-is/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Little leaks sink the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-leaks-sink-the-ship/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/who-is-rich-he-that-is-content-who-is-that-nobody/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [“But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-on-the-whole-though-i-never-arrived-at-the-perfection-i-had-been/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [The good particular men may do separately, in relieving the sick, is small, compared with what they may do collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-good-particular-men-may-do-separately-in-relieving-the-sick-is/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/take-counsel-in-wine-but-resolve-afterwards-in-water/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [He that's secure is not safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-s-secure-is-not-safe/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

[Explore all 1,692 Benjamin Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

## More Thou Knowest quotes

> [“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess: Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayer-of-an-anonymous-abbess-lord-thou-knowest-better-than-myself/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Thou knowest that these things which I say are true, and that I was never delighted in my own praise, for the secret of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boethius-d-524/thou-knowest-that-these-things-which-i-say-are-true-and-that-i-was/)

Boethius D. 524

> [“Thou knowest not what bitches women are," Danny said wisely. "I do know," said Pilon. "Thou knowest not." "I do know." "Liar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/thou-knowest-not-what-bitches-women-are-danny-said-wisely-i-do-know/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [Life, if thou knowest how to use it, is long enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/life-if-thou-knowest-how-to-use-it-is-long-enough/)

[Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

> [“Who am I? They often tell me I would step from my cell's confinement calmly, cheerfully, firmly, like a squire from his country-house. Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/who-am-i-they-often-tell-me-i-would-step-from-my-cell-s-confinement/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [Study what thou art Whereof thou art a part What thou knowest of this art This is really what thou art. All that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-drummond/study-what-thou-art-whereof-thou-art-a-part-what-thou-knowest-of-this/)

[William Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-drummond/)

> [“Thou knowest all; I seek in vain What lands to till or sow with seed - The land is black with briar and weed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/thou-knowest-all-i-seek-in-vain-what-lands-to-till-or-sow-with-seed/)

[Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/)

> [“1. To account nothing of one’s self, and to think always kindly and highly of others, this is great and perfect wisdom. Even shouldest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/1-to-account-nothing-of-one-s-self-and-to-think-always-kindly-and/)

[Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/)

> [Proclaim not all thou knowest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/proclaim-not-all-thou-knowest/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [“Villain I am none. Therefore farewell. I see thou knowest me not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/villain-i-am-none-therefore-farewell-i-see-thou-knowest-me-not/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [“We cannot ask thee for aught, for thou knowest our needs before they are born in us:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/we-cannot-ask-thee-for-aught-for-thou-knowest-our-needs-before-they/)

[Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/)

> [Lord, if Thou knowest that I shall find, on leaving the house, even through obedience, an occasion of offending Thee, I conjure Thee to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonsus-rodriguez/lord-if-thou-knowest-that-i-shall-find-on-leaving-the-house-even/)

Alphonsus Rodriguez

> [“And if you but listen in the stillness of the night, you shall hear them saying in silence, 'Our God, who art our winged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/and-if-you-but-listen-in-the-stillness-of-the-night-you-shall-hear/)

[Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/)

> [“My soule, poore soule thou talkes of things/ Thou knowest not what, my soule hath sliver wings,/ That mounts me up unto the highest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-kyd/my-soule-poore-soule-thou-talkes-of-things-thou-knowest-not-what-my/)

[Thomas Kyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-kyd/)

> [Thou learnest no secret until thou knowest friendship, since to the unsound no heavenly knowledge enters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hafez/thou-learnest-no-secret-until-thou-knowest-friendship-since-to-the/)

[Hafez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hafez/)

Browse all 32 Thou Knowest quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Proclaim not all thou knowest, all thou owest, all thou hast, nor all thou canst.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Benjamin Franklin"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/proclaim-not-all-thou-knowest-all-thou-owest-all-thou-hast-nor-all/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Thou Knowest"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/proclaim-not-all-thou-knowest-all-thou-owest-all-thou-hast-nor-all/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d7/benjamin-franklin-65_thou-knowest_proclaim-not-all-thou-knowest-all-thou-o_985228.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d7/benjamin-franklin-65_thou-knowest_proclaim-not-all-thou-knowest-all-thou-o_985228.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d7/benjamin-franklin-65_thou-knowest_proclaim-not-all-thou-knowest-all-thou-o_985228.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Proclaim not all thou knowest, all thou owest, all thou hast, nor all thou canst.” — Benjamin Franklin",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Benjamin Franklin",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Proclaim not all thou knowest, all...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/proclaim-not-all-thou-knowest-all-thou-owest-all-thou-hast-nor-all/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/proclaim-not-all-thou-knowest-all-thou-owest-all-thou-hast-nor-all/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
