--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All we can know is that we know nothing…" description: "\"“All we can know is that we know nothing. And that's the height of human wisdom.”\" — Leo Tolstoy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0af/leo-tolstoy-55_human-wisdom_all-we-can-know-is-that-we-know-nothing_2638258.png" --- # All we can know is that we know nothing. And that's the… ![“All we can know is that we know nothing. And that's the height of human wisdom.” quote by Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0af/leo-tolstoy-55_human-wisdom_all-we-can-know-is-that-we-know-nothing_2638258.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0af/leo-tolstoy-55_human-wisdom_all-we-can-know-is-that-we-know-nothing_2638258.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0af/leo-tolstoy-55_human-wisdom_all-we-can-know-is-that-we-know-nothing_2638258.png) > ““All we can know is that we know nothing. And that's the height of human wisdom.”” [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## 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 acknowledging our ignorance, which is the pinnacle of human understanding. **In simple terms:** Admitting we know nothing is the height of wisdom. Key Takeaway Embrace humility to grow wiser. Themes wisdom humility philosophy knowledge self‑awareness Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - education - personal reflection - scientific research - spiritual practice Key Concepts Socratic method epistemology existentialism learning theory Questions to Reflect On - What does admitting ignorance enable? - How can you turn humility into learning? A Different Perspective Humility alone may not lead to action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-wisdom/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know Height](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-height-1602810/) [Know Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-know/) [Leo-tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leo-tolstoy-2/) [Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pierre/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) [War and peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-and-peace/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [“But that's the whole aim of civilization: to make everything a source of enjoyment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/but-that-s-the-whole-aim-of-civilization-to-make-everything-a-source/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“In everything, almost in everything, I wrote I was guided by the need of collecting ideas which, linked together, would be the expression of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/in-everything-almost-in-everything-i-wrote-i-was-guided-by-the-need/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Blessed are the peacemakers; theirs is the kingdom of heaven”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/blessed-are-the-peacemakers-theirs-is-the-kingdom-of-heaven/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Society in itself is no great harm, but unsatisfied social aspirations are a bad and ugly business. We must certainly accept, and we will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/society-in-itself-is-no-great-harm-but-unsatisfied-social-aspirations/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Sou amigo da divisão do trabalho. Pessoas que não fazem nada devem fazer pessoas, enquanto as demais devem contribuir para a instrução e a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/sou-amigo-da-divis-o-do-trabalho-pessoas-que-n-o-fazem-nada-devem/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Todas as mulheres são mais materialistas do que os homens. Nós fazemos do amor algo enorme, mas elas sempre se mantém ‘terre-à-terre’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/todas-as-mulheres-s-o-mais-materialistas-do-que-os-homens-n-s-fazemos/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Remember that there is only one important time and that is now. The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/remember-that-there-is-only-one-important-time-and-that-is-now-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Besides, Oblonsky was fond of a pleasant joke, and sometimes liked to perplex a simple-minded man by observing that if you're going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/besides-oblonsky-was-fond-of-a-pleasant-joke-and-sometimes-liked-to/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Just imagine the existence of a man - let us call him A - who has left youth far behind, and of a woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/just-imagine-the-existence-of-a-man-let-us-call-him-a-who-has-left/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He understood that feeling of Levin's so well, knew that for Levin all the girls in the world were divided into two classes: one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-understood-that-feeling-of-levin-s-so-well-knew-that-for-levin-all/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“The acquisition by dishonest means and cunning,' said Levin, feeling that he was incapable of clearly defining the borderline between honesty and dishonesty. 'Like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-acquisition-by-dishonest-means-and-cunning-said-levin-feeling/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“The aim of civilization is to enable us to get enjoyment out of everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-aim-of-civilization-is-to-enable-us-to-get-enjoyment-out-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“I think love, both kinds of love, which you remember Plato defines in his "Symposium" - both kinds of love serve a touchstone for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-think-love-both-kinds-of-love-which-you-remember-plato-defines-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Just think! This whole world of ours is only a speck of mildew sprung up on a tiny planet, yet we think we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/just-think-this-whole-world-of-ours-is-only-a-speck-of-mildew-sprung/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## More by Leo Tolstoy > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-only-significance-of-life-consists-in-helping-to-establish-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Energy rests upon love; and come as it will, there's no forcing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/energy-rests-upon-love-and-come-as-it-will-there-s-no-forcing-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“If you only knew what those society women are, and women in general! My father is right. 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She was standing talking to a lady at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-knew-she-was-there-by-the-rapture-and-the-terror-that-seized-on/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Rest, nature, books, music...such is my idea of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/rest-nature-books-music-such-is-my-idea-of-happiness/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He was not to blame for being born with an irrepressible charachter and a mind some how constrained.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-was-not-to-blame-for-being-born-with-an-irrepressible-charachter/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [I ask one thing only: I ask for the right to hope, to suffer as I do. But if even that cannot be, command…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-ask-one-thing-only-i-ask-for-the-right-to-hope-to-suffer-as-i-do/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The idea shared by many that life is a vale of tears is just as false as the idea shared by the great majority,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-idea-shared-by-many-that-life-is-a-vale-of-tears-is-just-as-false/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To say that a work of art is good, but incomprehensible to the majority of men, is the same as saying of some kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-say-that-a-work-of-art-is-good-but-incomprehensible-to-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [True life is lived when tiny changes occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/true-life-is-lived-when-tiny-changes-occur/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) [Explore all 1,754 Leo Tolstoy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## More Human wisdom quotes > [Ninety percent of all human wisdom is the ability to mind your own business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/ninety-percent-of-all-human-wisdom-is-the-ability-to-mind-your-own/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Darling, replied Valentine, has not the count just told us that all human wisdom was contained in these two words,- "Wait and hope"?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-dumas/darling-replied-valentine-has-not-the-count-just-told-us-that-all/) [Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-dumas/) > [“Heaven may be won, not by the sword, not by human wisdom, but by Faith, Love, and Good Works.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lew-wallace/heaven-may-be-won-not-by-the-sword-not-by-human-wisdom-but-by-faith/) [Lew Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lew-wallace/) > [“Human wisdom has advanced to the point where man can construct satellites. And yet man in his wisdom cannot find a way to rescue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/human-wisdom-has-advanced-to-the-point-where-man-can-construct/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [International educational exchange is the most significant current project designed to continue the process of humanizing mankind to the point, we would hope, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/international-educational-exchange-is-the-most-significant-current/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [There is no such thing as an inevitable war. If war comes it will be from failure of human wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonar-law/there-is-no-such-thing-as-an-inevitable-war-if-war-comes-it-will-be/) [Bonar Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonar-law/) > [“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/) > [The Shambhala teachings are founded on the premise that there is basic human wisdom that can help to solve the world's problems. This wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/the-shambhala-teachings-are-founded-on-the-premise-that-there-is/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [I firmly believe this ... that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the builders of Babel:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-firmly-believe-this-that-without-his-concurring-aid-we-shall/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Human wisdom remains always one and the same although applied to the most diverse objects and it is no more changed by their diversity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/human-wisdom-remains-always-one-and-the-same-although-applied-to-the/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [Faith is the leading grace in all our spiritual warfare and conflict; but all along while we live, it hath faithful company that adheres…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/faith-is-the-leading-grace-in-all-our-spiritual-warfare-and-conflict/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [“Government is a contrivance of human wisdom to provide for human wants," wrote Edmund Burke in his Reflections on the Revolution in France. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-stone/government-is-a-contrivance-of-human-wisdom-to-provide-for-human/) [Deborah Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-stone/) > [All human wisdom is summed up in two words; wait and hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-dumas/all-human-wisdom-is-summed-up-in-two-words-wait-and-hope/) [Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-dumas/) > [The Holy Ghost is the only One who can detect the temptations of Satan, neither our common sense nor our human wisdom can detect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-holy-ghost-is-the-only-one-who-can-detect-the-temptations-of/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [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/) [Browse all 111 Human wisdom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-wisdom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“All we can know is that we know nothing. 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