--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The more you look at 'common knowledge'…" description: "\"The more you look at 'common knowledge', the more you realise that it is more likely to be common than it is to be knowledge. No real knowledge is comm..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/idries-shah-450_common_the-more-you-look-at-common-knowledge-th_1176781.jpg" --- # The more you look at 'common knowledge', the more you… ![“The more you look at 'common knowledge', the more you realise that it is more likely to be common than it is to be knowledge. No real knowledge is common.” quote by Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/idries-shah-450_common_the-more-you-look-at-common-knowledge-th_1176781.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/idries-shah-450_common_the-more-you-look-at-common-knowledge-th_1176781.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/idries-shah-450_common_the-more-you-look-at-common-knowledge-th_1176781.jpg) > “The more you look at 'common knowledge', the more you realise that it is more likely to be common than it is to be knowledge. No real knowledge is common.” [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Common knowledge often feels familiar but lacks depth; true knowledge is rare and not shared widely. **In simple terms:** Common ideas aren't deep knowledge. Key Takeaway Seek deeper understanding beyond popular beliefs. Themes knowledge critical thinking skepticism Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - education - media consumption - policy making - personal decisions Key Concepts epistemology social perception Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate between widely accepted ideas and true knowledge? - What sources help you verify depth of information? A Different Perspective Common ideas can be misleading if taken as fact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Common knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-knowledge/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-common-520899/) [Knowledge Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-real-759197/) [Knowledge Realise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-realise-3434993/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-knowledge/) [Realising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realising/) ## Related quotes > [“Science is simply the classification of the common knowledge of the common people. It is bringing together the things we all know and putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/science-is-simply-the-classification-of-the-common-knowledge-of-the/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Common is uncommon of knowledge. common is to persuade knowledge. common is knowledge's best persuasion. we are uncommon of our knowledge to its persuasion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/common-is-uncommon-of-knowledge-common-is-to-persuade-knowledge/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Real artists find answers. The knowledge of the artisan is within the confines of his skills. For example, I know a lot about lenses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krzysztof-kieslowski/real-artists-find-answers-the-knowledge-of-the-artisan-is-within-the/) [Krzysztof Kieslowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krzysztof-kieslowski/) > [The authentic insight and experience of any human soul, were it but insight and experience in hewing of wood and drawing of water, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-authentic-insight-and-experience-of-any-human-soul-were-it-but/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Knowledge is real knowledge only when it is acquired by the efforts of your intellect, not by memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/knowledge-is-real-knowledge-only-when-it-is-acquired-by-the-efforts/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Real existence, real knowledge, and real love are eternally connected with one another, the three in one: where one of them is, the others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/real-existence-real-knowledge-and-real-love-are-eternally-connected/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“We have the knowledge to realise we are just a mess of quanta and particles, like everything else is, and yet we keep trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/we-have-the-knowledge-to-realise-we-are-just-a-mess-of-quanta-and/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [Now I wonder what our knowledge has in common with God's knowledge according to those who treat God's knowledge... Is there anything else common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/now-i-wonder-what-our-knowledge-has-in-common-with-god-s-knowledge/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Self-knowledge is one common goal that will help everyone achieve personal success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/self-knowledge-is-one-common-goal-that-will-help-everyone-achieve/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > ['Knowledge, without common sense,' says Lee, is 'folly; without method, it is waste; without kindness, it is fanaticism; without religion, it is death.' But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-farrer/knowledge-without-common-sense-says-lee-is-folly-without-method-it-is/) [Austin Farrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-farrer/) > [The saying that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing is, to my mind, a very dangerous adage. If knowledge is real and genuine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/the-saying-that-a-little-knowledge-is-a-dangerous-thing-is-to-my-mind/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [I like their slogan 'making uncommon knowledge common' very much, but as far as I can tell Elsevier has not mastered this job well.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elbakyan/i-like-their-slogan-making-uncommon-knowledge-common-very-much-but-as/) [Alexandra Elbakyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elbakyan/) > [“It is not enough to acquire knowledge. Common-sense is paramount. Sadly, it is not in every knowledgeable person’s shed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammed-muazu-mukaddas/it-is-not-enough-to-acquire-knowledge-common-sense-is-paramount-sadly/) [Muhammed Muazu Mukaddas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammed-muazu-mukaddas/) > [Knowledge is the real power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/knowledge-is-the-real-power/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [“Scientists usually assume that no theory is 100 per cent correct. Consequently, truth is a poor test for knowledge. The real test is utility.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/scientists-usually-assume-that-no-theory-is-100-per-cent-correct/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) ## More by Idries Shah > [“To be a Sufi is to detach from fixed ideas and from preconceptions; and not to try to avoid what is your lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/to-be-a-sufi-is-to-detach-from-fixed-ideas-and-from-preconceptions/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [“Teach honesty by all means - you do know what it is, don't you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/teach-honesty-by-all-means-you-do-know-what-it-is-don-t-you/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [“Sufism is transmitted by means of the human exemplar, the teacher.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/sufism-is-transmitted-by-means-of-the-human-exemplar-the-teacher/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [“No existe práctica en aislamiento.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/no-existe-pr-ctica-en-aislamiento/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [A king who feared wasps once decreed that they were abolished. As it happened, they did him no harm. But he was eventually stung…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/a-king-who-feared-wasps-once-decreed-that-they-were-abolished-as-it/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [“Do not tell your secrets to everyone in this headquarters, Earth. We have surveyed it well. There was nobody to whom to entrust secrets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/do-not-tell-your-secrets-to-everyone-in-this-headquarters-earth-we/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [“Sufis are those who have expunged from their minds the human tendencies of envy and enmity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/sufis-are-those-who-have-expunged-from-their-minds-the-human/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [“Yes, the world is an illusion. But Truth is always being shown there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/yes-the-world-is-an-illusion-but-truth-is-always-being-shown-there/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [It is the message, not the man, which is important to the Sufis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/it-is-the-message-not-the-man-which-is-important-to-the-sufis/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [The human being, whether he realises it or not, is trusting someone or something every moment of the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/the-human-being-whether-he-realises-it-or-not-is-trusting-someone-or/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [“Who is the wrong person to criticise? You”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/who-is-the-wrong-person-to-criticise-you/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [“You may be able to get the bone down your throat But if it reaches your stomach it will tear your navel. (Gulistan)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/you-may-be-able-to-get-the-bone-down-your-throat-but-if-it-reaches/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [“People are always trying to understand. There is only one way to do that. It is to discover < + i + >why< +…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/people-are-always-trying-to-understand-there-is-only-one-way-to-do/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [We view Sufism not as an ideology that molds people to the right way of belief or action, but as an art or science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/we-view-sufism-not-as-an-ideology-that-molds-people-to-the-right-way/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) [Explore all 365 Idries Shah quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) ## More Common quotes > [I'm Fine!, the most common LIE in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/i-m-fine-the-most-common-lie-in-the-world/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Our times demand the declaration of the world's resources as the common heritage of all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/our-times-demand-the-declaration-of-the-world-s-resources-as-the/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [ Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a \[Soviet socialistic\] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-national-socialism-have-anything/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [When you have a cavity in your tooth and you let it get worse, eventually you have to get a root canal. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/when-you-have-a-cavity-in-your-tooth-and-you-let-it-get-worse/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Common sense is nothing more than a deposit of prejudices laid down in the mind before you reach eighteen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/common-sense-is-nothing-more-than-a-deposit-of-prejudices-laid-down/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [A time will come when the science of destruction shall bend before the arts of peace; when the genius which multiplies our powers, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-arago/a-time-will-come-when-the-science-of-destruction-shall-bend-before/) [Francois Arago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-arago/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [Those who advocate common usage in philosophy sometimes speak in a manner that suggests the mystique of the 'common man.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/those-who-advocate-common-usage-in-philosophy-sometimes-speak-in-a/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) [Browse all 7,866 Common quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The more you look at 'common knowledge', the more you realise that it is more likely to be common than it is to be knowledge. 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