--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To know and yet (think) we do not know is…" description: "\"“To know and yet (think) we do not know is the highest (attainment); not to know (and yet think) we do know is a disease.”\" — Lao Tzu" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/lao-tzu-624_think-know_to-know-and-yet-think-we-do-not-know-is_105057.jpg" --- # To know and yet (think) we do not know is the highest… ![“To know and yet (think) we do not know is the highest (attainment); not to know (and yet think) we do know is a disease.” quote by Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/lao-tzu-624_think-know_to-know-and-yet-think-we-do-not-know-is_105057.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/lao-tzu-624_think-know_to-know-and-yet-think-we-do-not-know-is_105057.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/lao-tzu-624_think-know_to-know-and-yet-think-we-do-not-know-is_105057.jpg) > ““To know and yet (think) we do not know is the highest (attainment); not to know (and yet think) we do know is a disease.”” [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True wisdom lies in recognizing the limits of one's knowledge, while pretending to know is a harmful illusion. **In simple terms:** Admitting ignorance is wiser than false certainty. Key Takeaway Cultivate humility about what you don't know. Themes wisdom humility self‑awareness epistemology Mood thoughtful serene Type philosophical aphorism ethical reminder When to use this quote - scientists acknowledging unknowns - leaders seeking expert advice - students admitting gaps before exams Key Concepts Socratic paradox cognitive bias Practical Applications - practice reflective journaling - ask clarifying questions Questions to Reflect On - When have you mistaken confidence for knowledge? - How can you create space for uncertainty? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attainment Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attainment-know-1264181/) [Know Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-disease-1264180/) [Know Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-highest-652645/) [Know Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-think/) [Think Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-know/) ## Related quotes > [“To know that you do not know is the best. To think you know when you do not is a disease. Recognizing this disease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/to-know-that-you-do-not-know-is-the-best-to-think-you-know-when-you/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [Seek what you know as the highest. It does not matter whether it is going to happen or not - living with a vision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/seek-what-you-know-as-the-highest-it-does-not-matter-whether-it-is/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [That knowledge which stops at what it does not know, is the highest knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/that-knowledge-which-stops-at-what-it-does-not-know-is-the-highest/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [“Nothing has been discovered, nothing has been invented. We can only know that we know nothing. And that's the highest degree of human wisdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/nothing-has-been-discovered-nothing-has-been-invented-we-can-only/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“The only thing that we know is that we know nothing, and that is the highest flight of human wisdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-only-thing-that-we-know-is-that-we-know-nothing-and-that-is-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [We can know only that we know nothing. And that is the highest degree of human wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/we-can-know-only-that-we-know-nothing-and-that-is-the-highest-degree/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [If you think you know everything and think you've done everything, I know you're an idiot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-shepard/if-you-think-you-know-everything-and-think-you-ve-done-everything-i/) [John C Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-shepard/) > [It's not what you know, it's what you think you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/it-s-not-what-you-know-it-s-what-you-think-you-know/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [“What you think you know don’t mean nothin. There is a difference between thinking and knowing. You might think you know something; you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-burns/what-you-think-you-know-don-t-mean-nothin-there-is-a-difference/) [Travis Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-burns/) > [You don't need to spend tens of millions of dollars on political consultants to tell you what you think when you already know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/you-don-t-need-to-spend-tens-of-millions-of-dollars-on-political/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [“If we cannot fully understand the acts of other people, until we know what they think they know, then in order to do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/if-we-cannot-fully-understand-the-acts-of-other-people-until-we-know/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [People look at you, and they think they know you. They think they can place you in a certain category by what they think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/people-look-at-you-and-they-think-they-know-you-they-think-they-can/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [“You are a wonderful creation. You know more than you think you know, just as you know less than you want to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/you-are-a-wonderful-creation-you-know-more-than-you-think-you-know/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [It has been scientifically proven that the less you know, the more you think you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/it-has-been-scientifically-proven-that-the-less-you-know-the-more-you/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Don't pretend to know someone you think you know because everyone has issues that they're holding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-pretend-to-know-someone-you-think-you-know-because-everyone-has/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Lao Tzu > [“This is how they are able to continue and endure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/this-is-how-they-are-able-to-continue-and-endure/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“Gravity is the root of lightness;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/gravity-is-the-root-of-lightness/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“Therefore the Tao is great;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/therefore-the-tao-is-great/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“Not seeking, not expecting, she is present, and can welcome all things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/not-seeking-not-expecting-she-is-present-and-can-welcome-all-things/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“What all men fear is indeed to be feared;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/what-all-men-fear-is-indeed-to-be-feared/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“Just remain in the center; watching. And then forget that you are there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/just-remain-in-the-center-watching-and-then-forget-that-you-are-there/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“This is what is called 'The mysterious Quality' (of the Tao).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/this-is-what-is-called-the-mysterious-quality-of-the-tao/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“If you show yourself, you will not be seen. If you affirm yourself, you will not shine. If you boast, you will have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/if-you-show-yourself-you-will-not-be-seen-if-you-affirm-yourself-you/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“The thirty spokes unite in the one nave; but it is on the empty space (for the axle), that the use of the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/the-thirty-spokes-unite-in-the-one-nave-but-it-is-on-the-empty-space/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“He who knows other men is discerning; he who knows himself is intelligent. He who overcomes others is strong; he who overcomes himself is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/he-who-knows-other-men-is-discerning-he-who-knows-himself-is/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“If you are depressed, you are living in the past; if you are anxious, you are living in the present; if you are at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/if-you-are-depressed-you-are-living-in-the-past-if-you-are-anxious/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“Simplicity without a name Is free from all external aim. With no desire, at rest and still, All things go right as of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/simplicity-without-a-name-is-free-from-all-external-aim-with-no/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“When gold and jade fill the hall, their possessor cannot keep them safe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/when-gold-and-jade-fill-the-hall-their-possessor-cannot-keep-them-safe/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“We listen to it, and we do not hear it, and we name it 'the Inaudible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/we-listen-to-it-and-we-do-not-hear-it-and-we-name-it-the-inaudible/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“If you give evil nothing to oppose, then virtue will return by itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/if-you-give-evil-nothing-to-oppose-then-virtue-will-return-by-itself/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) [Explore all 434 Lao Tzu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) ## More Think Know quotes > [The surest way to keep a secret is to make someone think they already know the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/the-surest-way-to-keep-a-secret-is-to-make-someone-think-they-already/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [“Wise are those who keep asking questions when everyone around them think they know the answers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-bartell/wise-are-those-who-keep-asking-questions-when-everyone-around-them/) [J. Bartell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-bartell/) > [You think you know someone until that moment you don't. It's all a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-think-you-know-someone-until-that-moment-you-don-t-it-s-all-a-lie/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think I know where you belong. I think I know its not with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-i-know-where-you-belong-i-think-i-know-its-not-with-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Just when we think we have a system, ...the system collapses. Just when we know our way around, we get lost. Just when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/just-when-we-think-we-have-a-system-the-system-collapses-just-when-we/) [Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/) > [Don't pretend to know someone you think you know because everyone has issues that they're holding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-pretend-to-know-someone-you-think-you-know-because-everyone-has/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't think I know everything because I don't watch much news from abroad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peng-shuai/i-don-t-think-i-know-everything-because-i-don-t-watch-much-news-from/) [Peng Shuai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peng-shuai/) > [So I think I know a little bit about winning, if there's ever a concern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-lowe/so-i-think-i-know-a-little-bit-about-winning-if-there-s-ever-a-concern/) [Kevin Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-lowe/) > [“You think you know everything that's happening around you. But you can't always see clearly when your staning right there in the picture.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-howells/you-think-you-know-everything-that-s-happening-around-you-but-you-can/) [Amanda Howells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-howells/) > [If you think you know it all, you really know nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/if-you-think-you-know-it-all-you-really-know-nothing/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [As you get older and you realize you really don't know as much as you think you know, you listen more. Because then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-keoghan/as-you-get-older-and-you-realize-you-really-don-t-know-as-much-as-you/) [Phil Keoghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-keoghan/) > [I love how people think they know you! but they really have no idea what you are like and what you are going through!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasia-high-hawk/i-love-how-people-think-they-know-you-but-they-really-have-no-idea/) [Tasia High Hawk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasia-high-hawk/) > [“Just when you think you know everything you can about a person... surprise!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/just-when-you-think-you-know-everything-you-can-about-a-person/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [I like to think that I know a lot of words, but I definitely don't know all of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-batuman/i-like-to-think-that-i-know-a-lot-of-words-but-i-definitely-don-t/) [Elif Batuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-batuman/) > [It has been scientifically proven that the less you know, the more you think you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/it-has-been-scientifically-proven-that-the-less-you-know-the-more-you/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) [Browse all 406 Think Know quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-know/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To know and yet (think) we do not know is the highest (attainment); not to know (and yet think) we do know is a disease.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lao Tzu" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/to-know-and-yet-think-we-do-not-know-is-the-highest-attainment-not-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Think Know" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/to-know-and-yet-think-we-do-not-know-is-the-highest-attainment-not-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/lao-tzu-624_think-know_to-know-and-yet-think-we-do-not-know-is_105057.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/lao-tzu-624_think-know_to-know-and-yet-think-we-do-not-know-is_105057.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/lao-tzu-624_think-know_to-know-and-yet-think-we-do-not-know-is_105057.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To know and yet (think) we do not know is the highest (attainment); not to know (and yet think) we do know…” — Lao Tzu", "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": "Lao Tzu", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“To know and yet (think) we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/to-know-and-yet-think-we-do-not-know-is-the-highest-attainment-not-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/to-know-and-yet-think-we-do-not-know-is-the-highest-attainment-not-to/#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 } } ] } ```