--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Knowledge, like religion, must be…" description: "\"Knowledge, like religion, must be experienced in order to be known.\" — Edwin Percy Whipple" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/091/edwin-percy-whipple-8845_inspirational_knowledge-like-religion-must-be-experien_2147281.jpg" --- # Knowledge, like religion, must be experienced in order to… ![“Knowledge, like religion, must be experienced in order to be known.” quote by Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/091/edwin-percy-whipple-8845_inspirational_knowledge-like-religion-must-be-experien_2147281.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/091/edwin-percy-whipple-8845_inspirational_knowledge-like-religion-must-be-experien_2147281.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/091/edwin-percy-whipple-8845_inspirational_knowledge-like-religion-must-be-experien_2147281.jpg) > “Knowledge, like religion, must be experienced in order to be known.” [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding knowledge requires personal experience, much like faith, because abstract concepts become clear only through lived encounter. **In simple terms:** Knowledge must be lived to be known. Key Takeaway Seek experience, not just theory. Themes learning experience faith Mood contemplative inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - spiritual practice - scientific research - travel - skill acquisition Key Concepts epistemology empiricism Questions to Reflect On - What experiences have shaped your beliefs? - Can knowledge be gained without direct experience? A Different Perspective Experience alone may not guarantee accurate understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-like/) [Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/) [Like Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-religion/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Experienced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-experienced-1351809/) ## Related quotes > [I am a believer in god, but I have not restricted myself to one religion. I have experienced many religions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanushree-dutta/i-am-a-believer-in-god-but-i-have-not-restricted-myself-to-one/) [Tanushree Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanushree-dutta/) > [“Knowledge is like an endless resource; a well of water that satisfies the innate thirst of the growing human soul. Therefore never stop learning...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chidi-okonkwo/knowledge-is-like-an-endless-resource-a-well-of-water-that-satisfies/) [Chidi Okonkwo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chidi-okonkwo/) > [“This is a book about questioning what others believe to be true, not accepting ideas just because famous people say they are right. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-aronson/this-is-a-book-about-questioning-what-others-believe-to-be-true-not/) [Marc Aronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-aronson/) > [“Those who are in love with practice without knowledge are like the sailor who gets into a ship without rudder or compass and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-fernandez/those-who-are-in-love-with-practice-without-knowledge-are-like-the/) [Iggy Fernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-fernandez/) > [Seeking knowledge is like opening doors. And I know the doors are everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/seeking-knowledge-is-like-opening-doors-and-i-know-the-doors-are/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) > [Knowledge is like money: the more one gets, the more one craves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/knowledge-is-like-money-the-more-one-gets-the-more-one-craves/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [“Knowledge is like the great army that will help us crush the forces of our own faults.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv-the-way-to-freedom/knowledge-is-like-the-great-army-that-will-help-us-crush-the-forces/) [Dalai Lama XIV The way to freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv-the-way-to-freedom/) > [When you ask people questions about what they've done, not only do you get knowledge, but they like you because people like to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maverick-carter/when-you-ask-people-questions-about-what-they-ve-done-not-only-do-you/) [Maverick Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maverick-carter/) > [I had a foretaste of another, larger kind of knowledge: one I believe human beings will be able to access in ever larger numbers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eben-alexander/i-had-a-foretaste-of-another-larger-kind-of-knowledge-one-i-believe/) [Eben Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eben-alexander/) > [Real knowledge, like everything else of value, is not to be obtained easily. It must be worked for, studied for, thought for, and, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-arnold/real-knowledge-like-everything-else-of-value-is-not-to-be-obtained/) [Thomas Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-arnold/) > [Knowledge is like fire 'cause it breaks down things so you can see what they truly are. It's like how a fire breaks your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/knowledge-is-like-fire-cause-it-breaks-down-things-so-you-can-see/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [Knowledge was like candy: you never turned it down, especially if you didn't have to work too hard to get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-liparulo/knowledge-was-like-candy-you-never-turned-it-down-especially-if-you/) [Robert Liparulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-liparulo/) > [Knowledge, like air, is vital to life. Like air, no one should be denied it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/knowledge-like-air-is-vital-to-life-like-air-no-one-should-be-denied/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [Knowledge is like the carrot, few know by looking at the green top that the best part, the orange part, is there. Like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nasreddin/knowledge-is-like-the-carrot-few-know-by-looking-at-the-green-top/) [Nasreddin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nasreddin/) > [Knowledge is like money: the more he gets, the more he craves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/knowledge-is-like-money-the-more-he-gets-the-more-he-craves/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) ## More by Edwin Percy Whipple > [Cheerfulness in most cheerful people is the rich and satisfying result of strenuous discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/cheerfulness-in-most-cheerful-people-is-the-rich-and-satisfying/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [The minister's brain is often the "poor-box" of the church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/the-minister-s-brain-is-often-the-poor-box-of-the-church/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [A true teacher should penetrate to whatever is vital in his pupil, and develop that by the light and heat of his own intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/a-true-teacher-should-penetrate-to-whatever-is-vital-in-his-pupil-and/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [Felicity, not fluency of language, is a merit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/felicity-not-fluency-of-language-is-a-merit/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [A politician weakly and amiably in the right is no match for a politician tenaciously and pugnaciously in the wrong. You cannot, by tying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/a-politician-weakly-and-amiably-in-the-right-is-no-match-for-a/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [A thought embodied and embrained in fit words walks the earth a living being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/a-thought-embodied-and-embrained-in-fit-words-walks-the-earth-a/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [Nature and society are so replete with startling contrasts that wit often consists in the mere statement and comparison of facts, as when Hume…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/nature-and-society-are-so-replete-with-startling-contrasts-that-wit/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [The bitterest satires and noblest eulogies on married life have come from poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/the-bitterest-satires-and-noblest-eulogies-on-married-life-have-come/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [Genius is not a single power, but a combination of great powers. It reasons, but it is not reasoning; it judges, but it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/genius-is-not-a-single-power-but-a-combination-of-great-powers-it/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [Nature does not capriciously scatter her secrets as golden gifts to lazy pets and luxurious darlings, but imposes tasks when she presents opportunities, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/nature-does-not-capriciously-scatter-her-secrets-as-golden-gifts-to/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [Even in social life, it is persistency which attracts confidence, more than talents and accomplishments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/even-in-social-life-it-is-persistency-which-attracts-confidence-more/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [A nation may be in a tumult to-day for a thought which the timid Erasmus placidly penned in his study more than two centuries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/a-nation-may-be-in-a-tumult-to-day-for-a-thought-which-the-timid/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [God is glorified, not by our groans, but by our thanksgivings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/god-is-glorified-not-by-our-groans-but-by-our-thanksgivings/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [As men neither fear nor respect what has been made contemptible, all honor to him who makes oppression laughable as well as detestable. Armies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/as-men-neither-fear-nor-respect-what-has-been-made-contemptible-all/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [What a man does with his wealth depends upon his idea of happiness. Those who draw prizes in life are apt to spend tastelessly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/what-a-man-does-with-his-wealth-depends-upon-his-idea-of-happiness/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) [Explore all 77 Edwin Percy Whipple quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) ## More Inspirational quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/) [H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) [Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Knowledge, like religion, must be experienced in order to be known.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edwin Percy Whipple" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/knowledge-like-religion-must-be-experienced-in-order-to-be-known/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Inspirational" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/knowledge-like-religion-must-be-experienced-in-order-to-be-known/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/091/edwin-percy-whipple-8845_inspirational_knowledge-like-religion-must-be-experien_2147281.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/091/edwin-percy-whipple-8845_inspirational_knowledge-like-religion-must-be-experien_2147281.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/091/edwin-percy-whipple-8845_inspirational_knowledge-like-religion-must-be-experien_2147281.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Knowledge, like religion, must be experienced in order to be known.” — Edwin Percy Whipple", "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": "Edwin Percy Whipple", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Knowledge, like religion, must be experienced...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/knowledge-like-religion-must-be-experienced-in-order-to-be-known/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/knowledge-like-religion-must-be-experienced-in-order-to-be-known/#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 } } ] } ```