--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Half of spiritual growth is learning what…" description: "\"Half of spiritual growth is learning what we don't know. The other half is unlearning what we do know.\" — Mark Batterson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/mark-batterson-1137_growth_half-of-spiritual-growth-is-learning-wha_690569.png" --- # Half of spiritual growth is learning what we don't know… ![“Half of spiritual growth is learning what we don't know. The other half is unlearning what we do know.” quote by Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/mark-batterson-1137_growth_half-of-spiritual-growth-is-learning-wha_690569.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/mark-batterson-1137_growth_half-of-spiritual-growth-is-learning-wha_690569.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/mark-batterson-1137_growth_half-of-spiritual-growth-is-learning-wha_690569.png) > “Half of spiritual growth is learning what we don't know. The other half is unlearning what we do know.” [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spiritual progress requires both gaining new insight and discarding old, limiting beliefs. **In simple terms:** Growth needs learning and unlearning. Key Takeaway Seek new truths, release old assumptions. Themes spirituality personal development growth Mood reflective inspiring Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - religious study - therapy - coaching - self‑reflection Key Concepts self-awareness cognitive flexibility belief revision Questions to Reflect On - What beliefs are you clinging to? - How can you open yourself to new perspectives? A Different Perspective Unlearning can be painful and may face resistance from identity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-growth/) [Unlearning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlearning/) ## Related quotes > [Half of learning is learning. 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The key to spiritual growth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/the-path-of-least-resistance-never-gets-us-where-we-want-to-go/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [“In this process of unlearning, in the process of feeling and hearing the plants again, one comes to realize many things. And of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harrod-buhner/in-this-process-of-unlearning-in-the-process-of-feeling-and-hearing/) [Stephen Harrod Buhner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harrod-buhner/) > [I have spent most of my life unlearning things that were proved not to be true](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/i-have-spent-most-of-my-life-unlearning-things-that-were-proved-not/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [Personal growth is not a matter of learning new information but of unlearning old limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/personal-growth-is-not-a-matter-of-learning-new-information-but-of/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [“The deeper education consists in unlearning one's first education.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/the-deeper-education-consists-in-unlearning-one-s-first-education/) [Paul Valéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [There was a lot of unlearning to be done when I moved from TV to films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohit-raina/there-was-a-lot-of-unlearning-to-be-done-when-i-moved-from-tv-to-films/) [Mohit Raina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohit-raina/) > [The process of unlearning in order to relearn demands a new concept of knowledge not as thing but as a process, not as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-davidson/the-process-of-unlearning-in-order-to-relearn-demands-a-new-concept/) [Cathy Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-davidson/) > [ “Learning, and especially unlearning, can take place only in the absence of defensiveness… \[W\]e can drop our defenses only when we love and are… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/learning-and-especially-unlearning-can-take-place-only-in-the-absence/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) > [“I don't categorize things merely to simplify my understanding. I'd rather delve into the process of unlearning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-sharda/i-don-t-categorize-things-merely-to-simplify-my-understanding-i-d/) [Nikhil Sharda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-sharda/) > [“There is an age at which we teach what we know. Then comes another age at which we teach what we do not know;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-barthes/there-is-an-age-at-which-we-teach-what-we-know-then-comes-another-age/) [Roland Barthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-barthes/) > [Unlearning is gaining importance as workplaces are moving towards agile, collaborative working models. While conventional education adds to our knowledge, unlearning will become the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-screwvala/unlearning-is-gaining-importance-as-workplaces-are-moving-towards/) [Ronnie Screwvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-screwvala/) > [Success for most people requires unlearning as much as learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/success-for-most-people-requires-unlearning-as-much-as-learning/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) ## More by Mark Batterson > [“The path of least resistance never gets us where we want to go. Shortcuts always end up being cul-de-sacs. The key to spiritual growth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/the-path-of-least-resistance-never-gets-us-where-we-want-to-go/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [If you've never had a God-sized dream that scared you half to death, then you haven't really come to life. If you've never been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/if-you-ve-never-had-a-god-sized-dream-that-scared-you-half-to-death/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [Part of my driving desire as a pastor is to remove every obstacle except the cross that would keep people from coming to faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/part-of-my-driving-desire-as-a-pastor-is-to-remove-every-obstacle/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [The Bible is the place where God bears His soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/the-bible-is-the-place-where-god-bears-his-soul/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [One God idea is worth more than a thousand good ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/one-god-idea-is-worth-more-than-a-thousand-good-ideas/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [“even if the people could no longer hear God, he believed that God could still hear them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/even-if-the-people-could-no-longer-hear-god-he-believed-that-god/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [“100 percent of the prayers I don’t pray won’t get answered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/100-percent-of-the-prayers-i-don-t-pray-won-t-get-answered/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [“You can’t play the man if you don’t pray the price. That’s how God turns the heart. You’ll never be a perfect parent, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/you-can-t-play-the-man-if-you-don-t-pray-the-price-that-s-how-god/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [The antidote for fear of failure is not success but small doses of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/the-antidote-for-fear-of-failure-is-not-success-but-small-doses-of/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [God is in the résumé-building business. He is always using past experiences to prepare us for future opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/god-is-in-the-r-sum-building-business-he-is-always-using-past/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [“Society's goal is to make us less foolish. From the cradle to grave the pressure is on: "Be normal!" Our inner fool may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/society-s-goal-is-to-make-us-less-foolish-from-the-cradle-to-grave/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [If you aren't hungry for God, you are full of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/if-you-aren-t-hungry-for-god-you-are-full-of-yourself/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [In my experience, take the Holy Spirit out of the equation of your life and it spells boring. Add it into the equation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/in-my-experience-take-the-holy-spirit-out-of-the-equation-of-your/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [When we cling too tightly to what God did last, we often miss what God wants to do next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/when-we-cling-too-tightly-to-what-god-did-last-we-often-miss-what-god/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [Uniqueness isn't a virtue. It's a responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/uniqueness-isn-t-a-virtue-it-s-a-responsibility/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) [Explore all 283 Mark Batterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) ## More Growth quotes > [My coach, Robert Allen, helped me a lot. He had more influence on my growth as a player than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamarcus-aldridge/my-coach-robert-allen-helped-me-a-lot-he-had-more-influence-on-my/) [LaMarcus Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamarcus-aldridge/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [“I urge you: don't cut short these thought-trains of yours. Follow them through to their end. Your thoughts and your feelings. Follow them through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-urge-you-don-t-cut-short-these-thought-trains-of-yours-follow-them/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“Economic growth continued by means of a succession of new products which found growing and ultimately massive demand. Some of the new products were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-a-hudson/economic-growth-continued-by-means-of-a-succession-of-new-products/) [Edward A. Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-a-hudson/) > [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/) [Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/) > [If you learn something that changes you, you've made progress. If you learn something that changes others, you've helped change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lanie-lane/if-you-learn-something-that-changes-you-you-ve-made-progress-if-you/) Lanie Lane > [“SILENT LIKE SLEEP You appear by my side, silent like sleep. Soft hair, a little wild. No fear, gentle like a calm river. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/silent-like-sleep-you-appear-by-my-side-silent-like-sleep-soft-hair-a/) [Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/) > [Friendship, "the wine of life," should, like a well-stocked cellar, be continually renewed; and it is consolatory to think, that although we can seldom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-boswell/friendship-the-wine-of-life-should-like-a-well-stocked-cellar-be/) [James Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-boswell/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“There is no growth without risk. There is always something to be gained from any experience. It is up to us to interpret our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truth-devour/there-is-no-growth-without-risk-there-is-always-something-to-be/) Truth Devour > [Create an environment for people to fail, to learn, and to grow. Their creativity and productivity will increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/create-an-environment-for-people-to-fail-to-learn-and-to-grow-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You have to improve; that's how you develop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gustafsson/you-have-to-improve-that-s-how-you-develop/) [Alexander Gustafsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gustafsson/) [Browse all 9,113 Growth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Half of spiritual growth is learning what we don't know. 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