--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Consciousness is a state in which a man…" description: "\"Consciousness is a state in which a man knows all at once everything that he in general knows and in which he can see how little he does know and how m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/562/g-i-gurdjieff-11640_consciousness_consciousness-is-a-state-in-which-a-man_2648589.jpg" --- # Consciousness is a state in which a man knows all at once… ![“Consciousness is a state in which a man knows all at once everything that he in general knows and in which he can see how little he does know and how many contradictions there are in what he knows.” quote by G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/562/g-i-gurdjieff-11640_consciousness_consciousness-is-a-state-in-which-a-man_2648589.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/562/g-i-gurdjieff-11640_consciousness_consciousness-is-a-state-in-which-a-man_2648589.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/562/g-i-gurdjieff-11640_consciousness_consciousness-is-a-state-in-which-a-man_2648589.jpg) > “Consciousness is a state in which a man knows all at once everything that he in general knows and in which he can see how little he does know and how many contradictions there are in what he knows.” [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. Consciousness is the awareness of one's limited knowledge and the contradictions within it. **In simple terms:** Awareness reveals how little we truly know. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and continuous learning. Themes philosophy psychology self‑awareness knowledge Mood reflective philosophical Type spiritual introspective When to use this quote - education - personal development - spiritual practice Key Concepts contradictions humility introspection Questions to Reflect On - What contradictions have you noticed in your beliefs? - How can you act despite limited knowledge? A Different Perspective May lead to paralysis by analysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Contradiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradiction/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) ## Related quotes > [Normal consciousness is a state of stupor, in which the sensibility to the wholly real and responsiveness to the stimuli of the spirit are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/normal-consciousness-is-a-state-of-stupor-in-which-the-sensibility-to/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [Unity consciousness is a state of enlightenment where we pierce the mask of illusion which creates separation and fragmentation. Behind the appearance of separation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/unity-consciousness-is-a-state-of-enlightenment-where-we-pierce-the/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [It is with our entire past ... that we desire, will and act ... from this survival of the past it follows that consciousness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/it-is-with-our-entire-past-that-we-desire-will-and-act-from-this/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [The experience of not forgetting consciousness alone is the state of devotion which is the relationship of unfading real love, because the real knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/the-experience-of-not-forgetting-consciousness-alone-is-the-state-of/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [“transcendental consciousness. This is the state of total silence where the mind and all your senses are still; however, unlike sleeping, your consciousness remains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rowland/transcendental-consciousness-this-is-the-state-of-total-silence-where/) [Sarah Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rowland/) > [“Her mind was still tiptoeing along the boundary of consciousness, in that state of semi-waking that spins threads between dream and real, and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/her-mind-was-still-tiptoeing-along-the-boundary-of-consciousness-in/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“• Conscious: “to be aware of one’s own existence, sensations, thoughts, surroundings” • Consciousness: “the state of being conscious.” According to this, each one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-emerson-ferrell/conscious-to-be-aware-of-one-s-own-existence-sensations-thoughts/) [L. Emerson Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-emerson-ferrell/) > [“So I devised a way for you to create anew, and Know, Who You Are in your experience. I did this by providing you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/so-i-devised-a-way-for-you-to-create-anew-and-know-who-you-are-in/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [You think, you become that thought. And consciousness, or the state of pure awareness, is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-long/you-think-you-become-that-thought-and-consciousness-or-the-state-of/) [Barry Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-long/) > [It's not about what you do, it's about being. It's about a state of consciousness or state of awareness of being where you're residing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drunvalo-melchizedek/it-s-not-about-what-you-do-it-s-about-being-it-s-about-a-state-of/) [Drunvalo Melchizedek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drunvalo-melchizedek/) > [Enlightenment is the natural state of consciousness, the innocent state of consciousness, that state which is uncontaminated by the movement of thought, uncontaminated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/enlightenment-is-the-natural-state-of-consciousness-the-innocent/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [I theorize that there is a spectrum of consciousness available to human beings. At one end is material consciousness. At the other end is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/i-theorize-that-there-is-a-spectrum-of-consciousness-available-to/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [“Primary consciousness is a state of being aware of things in the world – of having mental images in the present.But it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-david-lewis-williams/primary-consciousness-is-a-state-of-being-aware-of-things-in-the/) [James David Lewis-Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-david-lewis-williams/) > [“cosmic consciousness. Here, you realize total detachment from the self and realize that you are nothing but consciousness. In this state, you will understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rowland/cosmic-consciousness-here-you-realize-total-detachment-from-the-self/) [Sarah Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rowland/) > [“Don Alejandro cut in with advice I have never forgotten. "It is only when a man knows reason is not on his side that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-p-romulo/don-alejandro-cut-in-with-advice-i-have-never-forgotten-it-is-only/) [Carlos P. Romulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-p-romulo/) ## 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 Consciousness quotes > [“You're never alone if you're with your soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-armond-powell/you-re-never-alone-if-you-re-with-your-soul/) [Gerard Armond Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-armond-powell/) > [“I now argue that entry into Upper Palaeolithic caves was probably seen as virtually indistinguishable from entry into the mental vortex that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-david-lewis-williams/i-now-argue-that-entry-into-upper-palaeolithic-caves-was-probably/) [James David Lewis-Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-david-lewis-williams/) > [How wonderful it would be to scatter words as they rise to consciousness, to let them lie where they fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-scott/how-wonderful-it-would-be-to-scatter-words-as-they-rise-to/) [Joanna Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-scott/) > [“People and situations always show us what we need to see and learn about ourselves, and when we take responsibility for our own feelings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-mada-dalian/people-and-situations-always-show-us-what-we-need-to-see-and-learn/) [Eliza Mada Dalian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-mada-dalian/) > [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [“Entropy is the normal state of consciousness—a condition that is neither useful nor enjoyable. To avoid this condition, people are naturally eager to fill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/entropy-is-the-normal-state-of-consciousness-a-condition-that-is/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [The purpose is to be in gratitude forever. Live with applied consciousness, prosperity will break through the walls, flood you with it. You do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh-yogi/the-purpose-is-to-be-in-gratitude-forever-live-with-applied/) [Harbhajan Singh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh-yogi/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [A language possesses utility only insofar as it can construct conventional boundaries. A language of no boundaries is no language at all, and thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/a-language-possesses-utility-only-insofar-as-it-can-construct/) [Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/) > [So many people are passive participants in their very short time of having a consciousness, and those who aren't inspire me. Like Malala Yousafzai…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-gelulla/so-many-people-are-passive-participants-in-their-very-short-time-of/) Dylan Gelulla > [Floating in and out of consciousness...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/floating-in-and-out-of-consciousness/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [“The vision teller tells the vision to unguarded minds' of prey. The programmed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-f-hodge/the-vision-teller-tells-the-vision-to-unguarded-minds-of-prey-the/) [T.F. Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-f-hodge/) > [Human freedom involves our capacity to pause between the stimulus and response and, in that pause, to choose the one response toward which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/human-freedom-involves-our-capacity-to-pause-between-the-stimulus-and/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) [Browse all 6,062 Consciousness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Consciousness is a state in which a man knows all at once everything that he in general knows and in which he can see how little he does know and how many contradictions there are in what he knows.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "G. I. 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