--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Shall I tell you what knowledge is? It is…" description: "\"Shall I tell you what knowledge is? It is to know both what one knows and what one does not know.\" — Confucius" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/confucius-164_doe_shall-i-tell-you-what-knowledge-is-it-is_2955432.jpg" --- # Shall I tell you what knowledge is? It is to know both… ![“Shall I tell you what knowledge is? It is to know both what one knows and what one does not know.” quote by Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/confucius-164_doe_shall-i-tell-you-what-knowledge-is-it-is_2955432.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/confucius-164_doe_shall-i-tell-you-what-knowledge-is-it-is_2955432.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/confucius-164_doe_shall-i-tell-you-what-knowledge-is-it-is_2955432.jpg) > “Shall I tell you what knowledge is? It is to know both what one knows and what one does not know.” [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Knowledge includes awareness of both what one knows and what one does not know. **In simple terms:** Knowing limits is part of wisdom. Key Takeaway Recognize your unknowns. Themes wisdom humility learning self‑awareness Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - education - personal growth - decision making Key Concepts Socratic paradox meta‑cognition epistemology Questions to Reflect On - What do you assume you know? - How can you explore your blind spots? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on ignorance can hinder confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Does Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/does-know-241025/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-know-494627/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Tell Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-knowledge-1747369/) ## Related quotes > [I shall suggest, on the contrary, that all communication relies, to a noticeable extent on evoking knowledge that we cannot tell, and that all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-polanyi/i-shall-suggest-on-the-contrary-that-all-communication-relies-to-a/) [Michael Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-polanyi/) > [A true teacher would never tell you what to do. But he would give you the knowledge with which you could decide what would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-pike/a-true-teacher-would-never-tell-you-what-to-do-but-he-would-give-you/) [Christopher Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-pike/) > [Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/real-knowledge-is-to-know-the-extent-of-one-s-ignorance/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [But if a mirror ever makes you sad you should know that it does not know you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/but-if-a-mirror-ever-makes-you-sad-you-should-know-that-it-does-not/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [It takes knowledge to know something. It takes guts to do what you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-wentz/it-takes-knowledge-to-know-something-it-takes-guts-to-do-what-you-know/) [Pete Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-wentz/) > [The first step towards knowledge is to know that we are ignorant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cecil/the-first-step-towards-knowledge-is-to-know-that-we-are-ignorant/) [Richard Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cecil/) > [“The easiest way to get a promotion is with knowledge, i.e. if you know a thing or two about your boss.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ljupka-cvetanova/the-easiest-way-to-get-a-promotion-is-with-knowledge-i-e-if-you-know/) [Ljupka Cvetanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ljupka-cvetanova/) > [It is better to have useless knowledge than to know nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-better-to-have-useless-knowledge-than-to-know-nothing/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [“Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.” Be”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-gawdat/real-knowledge-is-to-know-the-extent-of-one-s-ignorance-be/) [Mo Gawdat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-gawdat/) > [The more certain our knowledge the less we know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-more-certain-our-knowledge-the-less-we-know/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [There's no such thing as useless knowledge. You never know what doors it's going to open up for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/there-s-no-such-thing-as-useless-knowledge-you-never-know-what-doors/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [“On Knowledge: You know that I know you know, but I want you to know that I know you know I know you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/on-knowledge-you-know-that-i-know-you-know-but-i-want-you-to-know/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“To know gneya-gnan (the knowledge regarding the object to be known) is referred to as scriptural knowledge and to Know Gnata-Gnan (the Knowledge regarding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/to-know-gneya-gnan-the-knowledge-regarding-the-object-to-be-known-is/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Travel is like knowledge. The more you see, the more you know you haven’t seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hertsgaard/travel-is-like-knowledge-the-more-you-see-the-more-you-know-you-haven/) [Mark Hertsgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hertsgaard/) > [The highest knowledge is to know that we are surrounded by mystery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-highest-knowledge-is-to-know-that-we-are-surrounded-by-mystery/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) ## More by Confucius > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man is distressed by his want (lack) of ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-is-distressed-by-his-want-lack-of-ability/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Better than the one who knows what is right is the one who loves what is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/better-than-the-one-who-knows-what-is-right-is-the-one-who-loves-what/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Knowledge is merely brilliance in organization of ideas and not wisdom. The truly wise person goes beyond knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/knowledge-is-merely-brilliance-in-organization-of-ideas-and-not/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [I live in a very small house, but my windows look out on a very large world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/i-live-in-a-very-small-house-but-my-windows-look-out-on-a-very-large/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-rule-a-country-of-a-thousand-chariots-there-must-be-reverent/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-real-fault-is-to-have-faults-and-not-amend-them/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-know-what-you-know-and-what-you-do-not-know-that-is-true-knowledge/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [A picture is poem without words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-picture-is-poem-without-words/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Heaven means to be one with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/heaven-means-to-be-one-with-god/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Does Heaven ever speak? The four seasons come and go, and all creatures thrive and grow. Does Heaven ever speak!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/does-heaven-ever-speak-the-four-seasons-come-and-go-and-all-creatures/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To study and at times practice what one has learned, is this not a pleasure?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-study-and-at-times-practice-what-one-has-learned-is-this-not-a/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/recompense-injury-with-justice-and-recompense-kindness-with-kindness/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [There is only one thing in life which never changes, and it is change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/there-is-only-one-thing-in-life-which-never-changes-and-it-is-change/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) [Explore all 1,019 Confucius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## More Doe quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. MARTIN LUTHER, letter to Chancellor Gregory Brück, January 13,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/i-cannot-forbid-a-person-to-marry-several-wives-for-it-does-not/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Sometimes a sign or a quote is simply interesting by itself and does not require anything beyond being framed on a page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/sometimes-a-sign-or-a-quote-is-simply-interesting-by-itself-and-does/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [A home is not a museum. It doesn't have to be furnished with Picasso paintings, or Sheraton suites, or Oriental rugs, or Chinese pottery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-cain/a-home-is-not-a-museum-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-furnished-with-picasso/) [James M. Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-cain/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [He's a fool that marries; but he's a greater fool that does not marry a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/he-s-a-fool-that-marries-but-he-s-a-greater-fool-that-does-not-marry/) [William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/) > [Nothing old is ever reborn but neither does it totally disappear. And that which has once been born, will always reappear in a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-aalto/nothing-old-is-ever-reborn-but-neither-does-it-totally-disappear-and/) [Alvar Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvar-aalto/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [If Wall Street crashes, does Main Street follow? Not necessarily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/if-wall-street-crashes-does-main-street-follow-not-necessarily/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [It does not seem to me to be sufficiently recognized everywhere among the officials that the existence or non-existence of our people and Empire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-von-hindenburg/it-does-not-seem-to-me-to-be-sufficiently-recognized-everywhere-among/) [Paul von Hindenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-von-hindenburg/) [Browse all 25,574 Doe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Shall I tell you what knowledge is? 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