--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man must first of all understand…" description: "\"A man must first of all understand certain things. He has thousands of false ideas and false conceptions, chiefly about himself, and he must get rid of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/g-i-gurdjieff-11640_acquire_a-man-must-first-of-all-understand-certa_2500372.jpg" --- # A man must first of all understand certain things. He has… ![“A man must first of all understand certain things. He has thousands of false ideas and false conceptions, chiefly about himself, and he must get rid of some of them before beginning to acquire anything new. Otherwise the new will be built on a wrong foundation and the result will be worse than…” quote by G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/g-i-gurdjieff-11640_acquire_a-man-must-first-of-all-understand-certa_2500372.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/g-i-gurdjieff-11640_acquire_a-man-must-first-of-all-understand-certa_2500372.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/g-i-gurdjieff-11640_acquire_a-man-must-first-of-all-understand-certa_2500372.jpg) > “A man must first of all understand certain things. He has thousands of false ideas and false conceptions, chiefly about himself, and he must get rid of some of them before beginning to acquire anything new. Otherwise the new will be built on a wrong foundation and the result will be worse than before. To speak the truth is the most difficult thing in the world; one must study a great deal and for a long time in order to speak the truth. The wish alone is not enough. To speak the truth one must know what the truth is and what a lie is, and first of all in oneself. And this nobody wants to know.” [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True understanding requires discarding false self‑beliefs before learning new ideas; truth‑telling demands deep study and self‑knowledge **In simple terms:** You must clear misconceptions before gaining new knowledge; speaking truth needs study and self‑awareness Key Takeaway First cleanse false ideas, then seek truth and learning Themes self‑knowledge truth learning philosophy self‑improvement Mood introspective serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - self‑reflection - education - personal development - critical thinking Key Concepts cognitive bias epistemology personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What false belief limits your growth? - How can you test the truth of your assumptions? A Different Perspective Truth is hard to find without confronting inner falsehoods ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquire/) [Built](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/built/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Conception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conception/) [Deals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deals/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Difficult things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-things/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Know Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-truth/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Speak the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-the-truth/) [Speak Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-truth/) [Study](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-difficult-636053/) [Truth is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-is/) [Truth Lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-lie/) [Truth Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-wish-601369/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“you do not realize that one has to learn to speak the truth. it seems to you that it is enough to wish or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/you-do-not-realize-that-one-has-to-learn-to-speak-the-truth-it-seems/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) > [“Certainly for myself I believe I would always wish to know the truth, but then I also wish to never have to face a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-setterfield/certainly-for-myself-i-believe-i-would-always-wish-to-know-the-truth/) [Diane Setterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-setterfield/) > [To speak the truth is the most difficult of all arts, for in its "pure" form, not connected with the interests of individuals, groups,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/to-speak-the-truth-is-the-most-difficult-of-all-arts-for-in-its-pure/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [Having the courage to speak your truth is sometimes difficult and scary. Don't be afraid to take a stand and defend yourself. Never allow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/having-the-courage-to-speak-your-truth-is-sometimes-difficult-and/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I rather speak the truth than lie and cheat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-hayward/i-rather-speak-the-truth-than-lie-and-cheat/) [Courtney Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-hayward/) > [Finally I know all the truth behind the lie... Thanks...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-low/finally-i-know-all-the-truth-behind-the-lie-thanks/) [Alex Low](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-low/) > [“Before you can speak the truth with your lips you must know truth in your heart. Psalm 15:2”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-brodie/before-you-can-speak-the-truth-with-your-lips-you-must-know-truth-in/) [Deborah Brodie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-brodie/) > [“This is what you can do to be called a true leader; know the truth, love the truth, speak the truth and repeat the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/this-is-what-you-can-do-to-be-called-a-true-leader-know-the-truth/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“But no. There is a difference between the truth and what we wish were true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/but-no-there-is-a-difference-between-the-truth-and-what-we-wish-were/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“A kiss may not be the truth but it is what we wish were true.” L.A. Story (1991) – Harris Telemacher (Steve Martin)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/a-kiss-may-not-be-the-truth-but-it-is-what-we-wish-were-true-l-a/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The more abstract the truth you wish to teach, the more must you allure the senses to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-more-abstract-the-truth-you-wish-to-teach-the-more-must-you/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I would have offered you a forest of truth, but you wish to speak of a single leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/i-would-have-offered-you-a-forest-of-truth-but-you-wish-to-speak-of-a/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [It is one thing to wish to have truth on our side, and another to wish sincerely to be on the side of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-one-thing-to-wish-to-have-truth-on-our-side-and-another-to-wish/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [A kiss may not be the truth, but it is what we wish were true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/a-kiss-may-not-be-the-truth-but-it-is-what-we-wish-were-true/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I love truth and wish to have it always spoken to me: I hate a liar. \[Lat., Ego verum amo, verum volo mihi dici;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/i-love-truth-and-wish-to-have-it-always-spoken-to-me-i-hate-a-liar/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) ## More by G. I. Gurdjieff > [Nothing can be attained without suffering but at the same time one must begin by sacrificing suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/nothing-can-be-attained-without-suffering-but-at-the-same-time-one/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [If you meditate and the Devil comes, make the Devil meditate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/if-you-meditate-and-the-devil-comes-make-the-devil-meditate/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [It is only by grounding our awareness in the living sensation of our bodies that the 'I Am,' our real presence, can awaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/it-is-only-by-grounding-our-awareness-in-the-living-sensation-of-our/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [Those who have not sown anything during their responsible life will have nothing to reap in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/those-who-have-not-sown-anything-during-their-responsible-life-will/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [Try to understand what I am saying: everything is dependent on everything else, everything is connected, nothing is separate. Therefore everything is going in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/try-to-understand-what-i-am-saying-everything-is-dependent-on/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [From my point of view, he can be called a remarkable man who stands out from those around him by the resourcefulness of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/from-my-point-of-view-he-can-be-called-a-remarkable-man-who-stands/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [To know all, it is necessary to know very little; but to know that very little, one must first know pretty much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/to-know-all-it-is-necessary-to-know-very-little-but-to-know-that-very/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [Hope of consciousness is strength Hope of feelings is slavery Hope of body is disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/hope-of-consciousness-is-strength-hope-of-feelings-is-slavery-hope-of/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [The degree of consciousness corresponds to the degree of density or the speed of vibrations. The denser the matter, the less conscious it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/the-degree-of-consciousness-corresponds-to-the-degree-of-density-or/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [Knowledge by itself does not give understanding. Nor is understanding increased by an increase of knowledge alone. Understanding depends upon the relation of knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/knowledge-by-itself-does-not-give-understanding-nor-is-understanding/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [A miracle is not the breaking of physical laws, but rather represents laws which are incomprehensible to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/a-miracle-is-not-the-breaking-of-physical-laws-but-rather-represents/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [Sincerity is the key which will open the door through which you will see your separate parts, and you will see something quite new.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/sincerity-is-the-key-which-will-open-the-door-through-which-you-will/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [If a man could understand all the horror of the lives of ordinary people who are turning around in a circle of insignificant interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/if-a-man-could-understand-all-the-horror-of-the-lives-of-ordinary/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [That which is easy is bad for your inner life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/that-which-is-easy-is-bad-for-your-inner-life/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [My way is to develop the hidden potentialities of man; a way that is against Nature and against God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/my-way-is-to-develop-the-hidden-potentialities-of-man-a-way-that-is/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) [Explore all 59 G. I. Gurdjieff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) ## More Acquire quotes > [Most people seek after what they do not possess and are enslaved by the very things they want to acquire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-sadat/most-people-seek-after-what-they-do-not-possess-and-are-enslaved-by/) [Anwar Sadat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-sadat/) > [ 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/) > [Humility is an elusive virtue. The more we pursue it - and the more we seem to acquire it - the more we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-aquilina/humility-is-an-elusive-virtue-the-more-we-pursue-it-and-the-more-we/) [Mike Aquilina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-aquilina/) > [Acquire worldly wisdom and adjust your behavior accordingly. If your new behavior gives you a little temporary unpopularity with your peer group then to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/acquire-worldly-wisdom-and-adjust-your-behavior-accordingly-if-your/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [This was Shakespeare's form ; Who walk'd in every path of human life, Felt every passion ; and to all mankind Doth now, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-akenside/this-was-shakespeare-s-form-who-walk-d-in-every-path-of-human-life/) [Mark Akenside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-akenside/) > [Wasn't Saddam destroyed? Wasn't Gaddafi liquidated? Didn't Milosevic go to the Hague? All true. But Stalin survived. Kim Jong-un isn't doing too badly, either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fisk/wasn-t-saddam-destroyed-wasn-t-gaddafi-liquidated-didn-t-milosevic-go/) [Robert Fisk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fisk/) > [The best way for women to acquire knowledge is from conversation with a father, a brother, or a friend, in the way of family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-letitia-barbauld/the-best-way-for-women-to-acquire-knowledge-is-from-conversation-with/) [Anna Letitia Barbauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-letitia-barbauld/) > [Have you ever wanted something so badly that you would do anything, believe anything in order to acquire it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/have-you-ever-wanted-something-so-badly-that-you-would-do-anything/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [Ballet is pure and demands that you serve something larger than yourself, whether it be beauty or art, or a combination of both. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-martins/ballet-is-pure-and-demands-that-you-serve-something-larger-than/) [Peter Martins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-martins/) > [You can't know it all. No matter how smart you are, no matter how comprehensive your education, no matter how wide ranging your experience,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/you-can-t-know-it-all-no-matter-how-smart-you-are-no-matter-how/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [A better distribution of incomes would increase that efficiency by diverting a great fund of wealth from the useless to the useful members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/a-better-distribution-of-incomes-would-increase-that-efficiency-by/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [I know well, Monsieur, how much you have to endure in your present duty, and I ask Our Lord to strengthen you in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/i-know-well-monsieur-how-much-you-have-to-endure-in-your-present-duty/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [The enemy's spies who have come to spy on us must be sought out, tempted with bribes, led away and comfortably housed. Thus they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-enemy-s-spies-who-have-come-to-spy-on-us-must-be-sought-out/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [In the late 1950s a major topic under discussion was whether Canada should acquire nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/in-the-late-1950s-a-major-topic-under-discussion-was-whether-canada/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [Shamanism is a path of knowledge, not of faith, and that knowledge cannot come from me or anyone else in this reality. To acquire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-harner/shamanism-is-a-path-of-knowledge-not-of-faith-and-that-knowledge/) [Michael Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-harner/) [Browse all 1,020 Acquire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A man must first of all understand certain things. He has thousands of false ideas and false conceptions, chiefly about himself, and he must get rid of some of them before beginning to acquire anything new. Otherwise the new will be built on a wrong foundation and the result will be worse than before. To speak the truth is the most difficult thing in the world; one must study a great deal and for a long time in order to speak the truth. The wish alone is not enough. To speak the truth one must know what the truth is and what a lie is, and first of all in oneself. And this nobody wants to know.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "G. I. Gurdjieff" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/a-man-must-first-of-all-understand-certain-things-he-has-thousands-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acquire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/a-man-must-first-of-all-understand-certain-things-he-has-thousands-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/g-i-gurdjieff-11640_acquire_a-man-must-first-of-all-understand-certa_2500372.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/g-i-gurdjieff-11640_acquire_a-man-must-first-of-all-understand-certa_2500372.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/g-i-gurdjieff-11640_acquire_a-man-must-first-of-all-understand-certa_2500372.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A man must first of all understand certain things. He has thousands of false ideas and false conceptions…” — G. I. Gurdjieff", "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": "G. I. Gurdjieff", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A man must first of all...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/a-man-must-first-of-all-understand-certain-things-he-has-thousands-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/a-man-must-first-of-all-understand-certain-things-he-has-thousands-of/#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 } } ] } ```