--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To prefer it is better than to only know…" description: "\"To prefer it is better than to only know it. To delight in it is better than merely to prefer it.\" — Confucius" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/confucius-164_delight_to-prefer-it-is-better-than-to-only-know_1133646.jpg" --- # To prefer it is better than to only know it. To delight in… ![“To prefer it is better than to only know it. To delight in it is better than merely to prefer it.” quote by Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/confucius-164_delight_to-prefer-it-is-better-than-to-only-know_1133646.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/confucius-164_delight_to-prefer-it-is-better-than-to-only-know_1133646.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/confucius-164_delight_to-prefer-it-is-better-than-to-only-know_1133646.jpg) > “To prefer it is better than to only know it. To delight in it is better than merely to prefer it.” [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. Preferring something is less valuable than truly knowing it; delight arises from deep appreciation beyond mere preference. **In simple terms:** Knowing and appreciating is better than just preferring. Key Takeaway Seek deep understanding and appreciation. Themes knowledge appreciation preference delight wisdom Mood thoughtful inspirational reflective Type philosophical educational cultural When to use this quote - education - art criticism - culinary tasting - music appreciation Key Concepts confucian ethics philosophy of mind Questions to Reflect On - How does one move from preference to true appreciation? - What practices deepen appreciation in daily life? A Different Perspective Practical constraints may limit deep experiences for many. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Merely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-merely-1288878/) [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Delight Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight-better-3127076/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Know Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-delight-1131783/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Merely Prefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merely-prefer-3127077/) [Prefer Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prefer-better-828674/) ## Related quotes > [“Of this he was certain: to be in her presence was to know delight in a more vivid sense than ever he had before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-aidan/of-this-he-was-certain-to-be-in-her-presence-was-to-know-delight-in-a/) [Pamela Aidan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-aidan/) > [Love and delight are better teachers than compulsion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albrecht-durer/love-and-delight-are-better-teachers-than-compulsion/) [Albrecht Durer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albrecht-durer/) > [“Happy is the man who can make others better, not merely when he is in their company, but even when he is in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/happy-is-the-man-who-can-make-others-better-not-merely-when-he-is-in/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [ Shakespeare . . . If he does not give you delight, you had better ignore him \[if you can\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/shakespeare-if-he-does-not-give-you-delight-you-had-better-ignore-him/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“He (God) will have us even though we prefer everything else to Him because there is 'nothing better' now to be had.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/he-god-will-have-us-even-though-we-prefer-everything-else-to-him/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [I prefer the better things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-prefer-the-better-things/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [Kush rolled, glass full, I prefer the better things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/kush-rolled-glass-full-i-prefer-the-better-things/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [The man of humanity delights in mountains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-man-of-humanity-delights-in-mountains/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The wise man delights in water, the Good man delights in mountains. For the wise move; but the Good stay still. The wise are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-wise-man-delights-in-water-the-good-man-delights-in-mountains-for/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [“The gift of words, the source of enjoyment, the source of delight that comes within and the unfading beauty and energy of words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/the-gift-of-words-the-source-of-enjoyment-the-source-of-delight-that/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [A real flame of love is a subtle thing. It burns as a will-o'-the-wisp, dancing onward to fairy lands of delight. It roars as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/a-real-flame-of-love-is-a-subtle-thing-it-burns-as-a-will-o-the-wisp/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [There was an Old Man of Messina, Whose daughter was named Opsibeena; She wore a small wig, and rode out on a pig, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-daughter-was-named-opsibeena/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) [James Nayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nayler/) > [Shhh.” He put a finger to her lips. “Hear me out. I cannot deny that I would've liked to have made babies with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/shhh-he-put-a-finger-to-her-lips-hear-me-out-i-cannot-deny-that-i/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/she-smiled-with-all-the-delight-of-a-kid-on-christmas-morning-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## 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 Delight quotes > [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/she-smiled-with-all-the-delight-of-a-kid-on-christmas-morning-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Shhh.” He put a finger to her lips. “Hear me out. I cannot deny that I would've liked to have made babies with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/shhh-he-put-a-finger-to-her-lips-hear-me-out-i-cannot-deny-that-i/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) [James Nayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nayler/) > [There was an Old Man of Messina, Whose daughter was named Opsibeena; She wore a small wig, and rode out on a pig, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-daughter-was-named-opsibeena/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [A real flame of love is a subtle thing. It burns as a will-o'-the-wisp, dancing onward to fairy lands of delight. It roars as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/a-real-flame-of-love-is-a-subtle-thing-it-burns-as-a-will-o-the-wisp/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“The gift of words, the source of enjoyment, the source of delight that comes within and the unfading beauty and energy of words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/the-gift-of-words-the-source-of-enjoyment-the-source-of-delight-that/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [Benefits received are a delight to us as long as we think we can requite them; when that possibility is far exceeded, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/benefits-received-are-a-delight-to-us-as-long-as-we-think-we-can/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [All the world's bravery that delights our eyes is but thy several liveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/all-the-world-s-bravery-that-delights-our-eyes-is-but-thy-several/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [It might be lonelier Without the Loneliness - I’m so accustomed to my Fate - Perhaps the Other - Peace - Would interrupt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/it-might-be-lonelier-without-the-loneliness-i-m-so-accustomed-to-my/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Design should do the same thing in everyday life that art does when encountered: amaze us, scare us or delight us, but certainly open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-betsky/design-should-do-the-same-thing-in-everyday-life-that-art-does-when/) [Aaron Betsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-betsky/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Every natural power exhilarates; a true talent delights the possessor first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-natural-power-exhilarates-a-true-talent-delights-the-possessor/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we are to define science, ... it does not consist so much in knowing, nor even in "organized knowledge," as it does in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sanders-peirce/if-we-are-to-define-science-it-does-not-consist-so-much-in-knowing/) [Charles Sanders Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sanders-peirce/) > [Significantly, God in Genesis 1 pronounces the rest of creation "good" before humanity is created. The psalmist and the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-clapp/significantly-god-in-genesis-1-pronounces-the-rest-of-creation-good/) [Rodney Clapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-clapp/) > [Being asked to play 'The Doctor' is an amazing privilege. Like the Doctor himself I find myself in a state of utter terror and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/being-asked-to-play-the-doctor-is-an-amazing-privilege-like-the/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) [Browse all 2,212 Delight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To prefer it is better than to only know it. To delight in it is better than merely to prefer it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Confucius" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-prefer-it-is-better-than-to-only-know-it-to-delight-in-it-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Delight" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-prefer-it-is-better-than-to-only-know-it-to-delight-in-it-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/confucius-164_delight_to-prefer-it-is-better-than-to-only-know_1133646.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/confucius-164_delight_to-prefer-it-is-better-than-to-only-know_1133646.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/confucius-164_delight_to-prefer-it-is-better-than-to-only-know_1133646.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To prefer it is better than to only know it. To delight in it is better than merely to prefer it.” — Confucius", "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": "Confucius", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To prefer it is better than...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-prefer-it-is-better-than-to-only-know-it-to-delight-in-it-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-prefer-it-is-better-than-to-only-know-it-to-delight-in-it-is/#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 } } ] } ```