--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can practice to attain knowledge, but…" description: "\"You can practice to attain knowledge, but you can't practice to attain wisdom.\" — Herbie Hancock" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd9/herbie-hancock-2674_knowledge_you-can-practice-to-attain-knowledge-but_71250.jpg" --- # You can practice to attain knowledge, but you can't… ![“You can practice to attain knowledge, but you can't practice to attain wisdom.” quote by Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd9/herbie-hancock-2674_knowledge_you-can-practice-to-attain-knowledge-but_71250.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd9/herbie-hancock-2674_knowledge_you-can-practice-to-attain-knowledge-but_71250.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd9/herbie-hancock-2674_knowledge_you-can-practice-to-attain-knowledge-but_71250.jpg) > “You can practice to attain knowledge, but you can't practice to attain wisdom.” [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Knowledge can be acquired through study and rehearsal, yet wisdom requires lived experience and reflection beyond mere practice. **In simple terms:** Practice yields knowledge, not wisdom. Key Takeaway Wisdom transcends rote learning. Themes knowledge vs wisdom learning limits experience reflection growth Mood thoughtful inquisitive reflective Type aphorism philosophical When to use this quote - academic study - skill training - career development - personal decision‑making - mentorship Key Concepts acquisition insight maturity self-awareness Practical Applications - design curricula that balance theory and reflective practice - coach individuals to integrate experience with learning Questions to Reflect On - How can you embed reflection into daily routines? - What experiences have shaped your understanding beyond facts? A Different Perspective Some argue that wisdom can be cultivated through deliberate practice of critical thinking and ethical deliberation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [“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/) > [Knowledge that is not put into practice is like food that is not digested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/knowledge-that-is-not-put-into-practice-is-like-food-that-is-not/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [Theory without practice is of little value, whereas practice is the proof of theory.Theory is the knowledge, practice the ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alois-podhajsky/theory-without-practice-is-of-little-value-whereas-practice-is-the/) [Alois Podhajsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alois-podhajsky/) > [Knowledge is everything but without practice is nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/knowledge-is-everything-but-without-practice-is-nothing/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [If knowledge is not put into practice, it does not benefit one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-tahir-ul-qadri/if-knowledge-is-not-put-into-practice-it-does-not-benefit-one/) [Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-tahir-ul-qadri/) > [The intelligence consists not only in the knowledge but also in the skill to apply the knowledge into practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-intelligence-consists-not-only-in-the-knowledge-but-also-in-the/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [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/) > [A man can only attain knowledge with the help of those who possess it. This must be understood from the very beginning. One must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gurdjieff/a-man-can-only-attain-knowledge-with-the-help-of-those-who-possess-it/) George Gurdjieff > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [Be humble, if thou would'st attain to wisdom. Be humbler still, when wisdom thou hast mastered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/be-humble-if-thou-would-st-attain-to-wisdom-be-humbler-still-when/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > [A man doesn't begin to attain wisdom until he recognizes that he is no longer indispensable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-byrd/a-man-doesn-t-begin-to-attain-wisdom-until-he-recognizes-that-he-is/) Richard Byrd ## More by Herbie Hancock > [You would not exist if you did not have something to bring to the table of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/you-would-not-exist-if-you-did-not-have-something-to-bring-to-the/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [One of the greatest attributes of jazz, I think, is that it is that open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/one-of-the-greatest-attributes-of-jazz-i-think-is-that-it-is-that-open/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [Most people define themselves by what they do - 'I'm a musician.' Then one day it occurred to me that I'm only a musician…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/most-people-define-themselves-by-what-they-do-i-m-a-musician-then-one/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [I don't think there are any pure Africans of the African Americans, but the African part of our history was pretty much taken away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/i-don-t-think-there-are-any-pure-africans-of-the-african-americans/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [So in other words, we were constantly challenged to grow, and thats what a master does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/so-in-other-words-we-were-constantly-challenged-to-grow-and-thats/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [The strongest thing that any human being has going is their own integrity and their own heart. As soon as you start veering away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/the-strongest-thing-that-any-human-being-has-going-is-their-own/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [Like no matter what happens, this would be the ultimate, they can make something positive happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/like-no-matter-what-happens-this-would-be-the-ultimate-they-can-make/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [There are a lot of records coming out, in every field of music, not just jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/there-are-a-lot-of-records-coming-out-in-every-field-of-music-not/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [I like to present something that the people haven't seen or haven't heard before. Otherwise they might as well just stay home and play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/i-like-to-present-something-that-the-people-haven-t-seen-or-haven-t/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [I don't go around, the way many musicians do, with earbuds in my ear listening to my iPod all day and just sticking my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/i-don-t-go-around-the-way-many-musicians-do-with-earbuds-in-my-ear/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [Creativity and artistic endeavors have a mission that goes far beyond just making music for the sake of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/creativity-and-artistic-endeavors-have-a-mission-that-goes-far-beyond/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [The most valuable things in life are priceless. They are courage, compassion, wisdom, respect for ourselves and others, and a host of characteristics that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/the-most-valuable-things-in-life-are-priceless-they-are-courage/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [Creativity shouldn't be following radio; it should be the other way around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/creativity-shouldn-t-be-following-radio-it-should-be-the-other-way/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [One thing I like about jazz is that it emphasized doing things differently from what other people were doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/one-thing-i-like-about-jazz-is-that-it-emphasized-doing-things/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [I don't mind being classified as a jazz artist, but I do mind being restricted to being a jazz artist. My foundation has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/i-don-t-mind-being-classified-as-a-jazz-artist-but-i-do-mind-being/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) [Explore all 155 Herbie Hancock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) ## More Knowledge quotes > [“Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabelaise/knowledge-without-conscience-is-but-the-ruin-of-the-soul/) Rabelaise > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I never knew any man who had once tasted the sweetness of experimental knowledge, that ever afterward fasted after ye Vapour garlick and onions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-zimmer/i-never-knew-any-man-who-had-once-tasted-the-sweetness-of/) [Carl Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-zimmer/) > [I would rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent than in the extent of my powers and dominion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowledge-of-what-is-excellent/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I've always been a believer in research. It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [I am an aware citizen, so I want my characters to be aware, too. They should be aware of what's happening in the society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-tripathi/i-am-an-aware-citizen-so-i-want-my-characters-to-be-aware-too-they/) [Pankaj Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-tripathi/) > [Technology means the systematic application of scientific or other organized knowledge to practical tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/technology-means-the-systematic-application-of-scientific-or-other/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Love is a vision,love carry our vision,and love by-step our vision. we carry our love to our by-step. once love is vision love is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-a-vision-love-carry-our-vision-and-love-by-step-our-vision-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Man is an ignoramus athirst for knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-wagner/man-is-an-ignoramus-athirst-for-knowledge/) [Charles Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-wagner/) [Browse all 13,227 Knowledge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can practice to attain knowledge, but you can't practice to attain wisdom.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herbie Hancock" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/you-can-practice-to-attain-knowledge-but-you-can-t-practice-to-attain/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Knowledge" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/you-can-practice-to-attain-knowledge-but-you-can-t-practice-to-attain/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd9/herbie-hancock-2674_knowledge_you-can-practice-to-attain-knowledge-but_71250.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd9/herbie-hancock-2674_knowledge_you-can-practice-to-attain-knowledge-but_71250.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd9/herbie-hancock-2674_knowledge_you-can-practice-to-attain-knowledge-but_71250.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can practice to attain knowledge, but you can't practice to attain wisdom.” — Herbie Hancock", "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": "Herbie Hancock", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can practice to attain knowledge,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/you-can-practice-to-attain-knowledge-but-you-can-t-practice-to-attain/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/you-can-practice-to-attain-knowledge-but-you-can-t-practice-to-attain/#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 } } ] } ```