---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man can only attain knowledge with the…"
description: "\"A man can only attain knowledge with the help of those who possess it. This must be understood from the very beginning. One must learn from him who kno..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/george-gurdjieff-65842_beginning_a-man-can-only-attain-knowledge-with-the_2870100.jpg"
---

#  A man can only attain knowledge with the help of those who…

![“A man can only attain knowledge with the help of those who possess it. This must be understood from the very beginning. One must learn from him who knows.” quote by George Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/george-gurdjieff-65842_beginning_a-man-can-only-attain-knowledge-with-the_2870100.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/george-gurdjieff-65842_beginning_a-man-can-only-attain-knowledge-with-the_2870100.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/george-gurdjieff-65842_beginning_a-man-can-only-attain-knowledge-with-the_2870100.jpg)

> “A man can only attain knowledge with the help of those who possess it. This must be understood from the very beginning. One must learn from him who knows.”

George Gurdjieff

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Knowledge comes from learning from those who already possess it, emphasizing mentorship.

**In simple terms:** Learn from those who know.

Key Takeaway

Seek mentors and learn from experts.

Themes

learning mentorship wisdom

Mood

inspirational educational

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- education
- career development
- skill acquisition

Key Concepts

epistemology teacher‑student dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- Who can you learn from today?
- How can you become a mentor for others?

A Different Perspective

Relying on others may limit independent thinking.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/)

## Related quotes

> [I've been doing this 26 years and have a lot of knowledge which will help me in the ring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wladimir-klitschko/i-ve-been-doing-this-26-years-and-have-a-lot-of-knowledge-which-will/)

[Wladimir Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wladimir-klitschko/)

> [It would be great to be able to pass on to someone all of the successes, the failures, and the knowledge that one has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/it-would-be-great-to-be-able-to-pass-on-to-someone-all-of-the/)

[Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/)

> [“Knowledge will help you make a living; wisdom will help you make a life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/knowledge-will-help-you-make-a-living-wisdom-will-help-you-make-a-life/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [I want more knowledge so that I can help people, so that I can Do what I need to do to make the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-more-knowledge-so-that-i-can-help-people-so-that-i-can-do-what/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [To attain knowledge, add things every day To attain wisdom, remove things every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/to-attain-knowledge-add-things-every-day-to-attain-wisdom-remove/)

[Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/)

> [When you try to do one step forward to attain knowledge about the hidden truths, then do the same time three steps forward to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-steiner/when-you-try-to-do-one-step-forward-to-attain-knowledge-about-the/)

[Rudolf Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-steiner/)

> [You do not attain to knowledge by remaining on the shore and watching the foaming waves, you must make the venture and cast yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-buber/you-do-not-attain-to-knowledge-by-remaining-on-the-shore-and-watching/)

[Martin Buber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-buber/)

> [If you cannot attain knowledge without torturing a dog, you must do without knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/if-you-cannot-attain-knowledge-without-torturing-a-dog-you-must-do/)

[George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/)

> [“To attain knowledge, add things everyday. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tse/to-attain-knowledge-add-things-everyday-to-attain-wisdom-remove/)

[Lao Tse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tse/)

> [The highest that we can attain to is not Knowledge, but Sympathy with Intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-highest-that-we-can-attain-to-is-not-knowledge-but-sympathy-with/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [“You attain to knowledge by argument; You attain a craft or skill by practice; If voluntary poverty's your choice, companionship's the way, not hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/you-attain-to-knowledge-by-argument-you-attain-a-craft-or-skill-by/)

[Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/)

> [You can practice to attain knowledge, but you can't practice to attain wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/you-can-practice-to-attain-knowledge-but-you-can-t-practice-to-attain/)

[Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/)

> [By persistent labor man may attain to all excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demosthenes/by-persistent-labor-man-may-attain-to-all-excellence/)

[Demosthenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demosthenes/)

> [There must be a way for man to attain all possible pleasures, all the powers and knowledge that nature can grant him, and still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/there-must-be-a-way-for-man-to-attain-all-possible-pleasures-all-the/)

[Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/)

> [To vilify a great man is the readiest way in which a little man can himself attain greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/to-vilify-a-great-man-is-the-readiest-way-in-which-a-little-man-can/)

[Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/)

## More by George Gurdjieff

> [A man is never the same for long. He is continually changing. He seldom remains the same even for half an hour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gurdjieff/a-man-is-never-the-same-for-long-he-is-continually-changing-he-seldom/)

George Gurdjieff

> [The first reason for mans inner slavery is his ignorance, and above all, his ignorance of himself. Without self-knowledge, without understanding the working and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gurdjieff/the-first-reason-for-mans-inner-slavery-is-his-ignorance-and-above/)

George Gurdjieff

> [“It is necessary to observe yourself differently than you do in ordinary life. It is necessary to have a different attitude, not the attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gurdjieff/it-is-necessary-to-observe-yourself-differently-than-you-do-in/)

George Gurdjieff

Explore all 4 George Gurdjieff quotes

## More Beginning quotes

> [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/)

[Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/)

> [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/)

[Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/)

> [Every Finish Line is the beginning of a new race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-finish-line-is-the-beginning-of-a-new-race/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Always keep the smile, because the smile is the beginning of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-imad/always-keep-the-smile-because-the-smile-is-the-beginning-of-love/)

Adam Imad

> [We are beginning to see intimations of this in the implantation of computer devices into the human body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kurzweil/we-are-beginning-to-see-intimations-of-this-in-the-implantation-of/)

[Ray Kurzweil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kurzweil/)

> [The only vocal training I had was playing with a tape recorder as a kid, and you know, doing the beginning of the 'Lone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buffer/the-only-vocal-training-i-had-was-playing-with-a-tape-recorder-as-a/)

[Michael Buffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buffer/)

> [January is the beginning of a new year for us in the Western world. Let us give to God what belongs to him: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/january-is-the-beginning-of-a-new-year-for-us-in-the-western-world/)

[Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/)

> [In the beginning, if you look at those early label albums of the Chicks, we didn't write all that much. We had an A&amp;R…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martie-maguire/in-the-beginning-if-you-look-at-those-early-label-albums-of-the/)

[Martie Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martie-maguire/)

> [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [When there is a mission before you, you see it from its beginning to its conclusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-white/when-there-is-a-mission-before-you-you-see-it-from-its-beginning-to/)

[Jesse White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-white/)

> [When God made the world, all things began with him. Life, death, it all began when he said so. That includes you and me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manae-poet-of-carisis/when-god-made-the-world-all-things-began-with-him-life-death-it-all/)

Manae Poet Of Carisis

> [From the beginning at Intel, we planned on being big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-noyce/from-the-beginning-at-intel-we-planned-on-being-big/)

[Robert Noyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-noyce/)

> [In the very beginning, Yelp started as a service where we really didn't think people would write reviews for fun. The whole concept of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-stoppelman/in-the-very-beginning-yelp-started-as-a-service-where-we-really-didn/)

[Jeremy Stoppelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-stoppelman/)

> [Some projects feel like the stars are aligning for them from the very beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-smith/some-projects-feel-like-the-stars-are-aligning-for-them-from-the-very/)

[Gregory Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-smith/)

> [Do not judge me by my beginning, Only by my end, Nor by the path I took, But where it led me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacklyn-h-lucas/do-not-judge-me-by-my-beginning-only-by-my-end-nor-by-the-path-i-took/)

Jacklyn H Lucas

[Browse all 3,566 Beginning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "A man can only attain knowledge with the help of those who possess it. This must be understood from the very beginning. One must learn from him who knows.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George Gurdjieff"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gurdjieff/a-man-can-only-attain-knowledge-with-the-help-of-those-who-possess-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Beginning"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gurdjieff/a-man-can-only-attain-knowledge-with-the-help-of-those-who-possess-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/george-gurdjieff-65842_beginning_a-man-can-only-attain-knowledge-with-the_2870100.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/george-gurdjieff-65842_beginning_a-man-can-only-attain-knowledge-with-the_2870100.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/george-gurdjieff-65842_beginning_a-man-can-only-attain-knowledge-with-the_2870100.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A man can only attain knowledge with the help of those who possess it. This must be understood from the very…” — George 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": "George Gurdjieff",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gurdjieff/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A man can only attain knowledge...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gurdjieff/a-man-can-only-attain-knowledge-with-the-help-of-those-who-possess-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gurdjieff/a-man-can-only-attain-knowledge-with-the-help-of-those-who-possess-it/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
