--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am smart because I know I nothing." description: "\"“I am smart because I know I nothing.”\" — Plato" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/plato-103_answers_i-am-smart-because-i-know-i-nothing-2607_2607901.jpg" --- # I am smart because I know I nothing. ![“I am smart because I know I nothing.” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/plato-103_answers_i-am-smart-because-i-know-i-nothing-2607_2607901.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/plato-103_answers_i-am-smart-because-i-know-i-nothing-2607_2607901.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/plato-103_answers_i-am-smart-because-i-know-i-nothing-2607_2607901.jpg) > ““I am smart because I know I nothing.”” [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledging one's own ignorance is the foundation of true wisdom. **In simple terms:** Admitting ignorance leads to wisdom. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and keep learning. Themes wisdom humility self‑knowledge Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - education - self‑improvement - critical thinking Key Concepts philosophy Sognition learning Questions to Reflect On - How does humility shape your learning? - What steps will you take to expand knowledge? A Different Perspective Humility alone isn’t enough without action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Philosophical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophical/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Smart Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart-know-618711/) ## Related quotes > [Me, getting smart with you? How would you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-getting-smart-with-you-how-would-you-know/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm just smart enough to know what it is I don't know and try to learn as I go along and accept that you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-d-moore/i-m-just-smart-enough-to-know-what-it-is-i-don-t-know-and-try-to/) [Ronald D. Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-d-moore/) > [You should be smart enough to know that you don't know everything. But you have to believe in yourself. I certainly do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-kruger/you-should-be-smart-enough-to-know-that-you-don-t-know-everything-but/) [Diane Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-kruger/) > [I said yes to Smart because I know that connectivity plays a big role in linking K-Drama to Filipinos. I would not have felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyun-bin/i-said-yes-to-smart-because-i-know-that-connectivity-plays-a-big-role/) [Hyun Bin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyun-bin/) > [Many people are smart enough to know how to manage themselves out of the estate tax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cohn/many-people-are-smart-enough-to-know-how-to-manage-themselves-out-of/) [Gary Cohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cohn/) > [Some of you are really smart. You know who you are. Some of you are really thick. Unfortunately, you don't know who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-of-you-are-really-smart-you-know-who-you-are-some-of-you-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I may not know as much as the next person I mught not be smart but I know when I'm getting lied to toor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-bug/i-may-not-know-as-much-as-the-next-person-i-mught-not-be-smart-but-i/) [Lady Bug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-bug/) > [I'm smart enough to know to work with smart people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idina-menzel/i-m-smart-enough-to-know-to-work-with-smart-people/) [Idina Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idina-menzel/) > [“There are people who are so smart they know how to manipulate you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/there-are-people-who-are-so-smart-they-know-how-to-manipulate-you/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [We're too smart to know there aren't easy answers. But we're not dumb enough to accept that there aren't better answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-romney/we-re-too-smart-to-know-there-aren-t-easy-answers-but-we-re-not-dumb/) [Ann Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-romney/) > [“Just because you know stuff doesn't mean you are smart... You have to know how to use that information.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-keller/just-because-you-know-stuff-doesn-t-mean-you-are-smart-you-have-to/) [Josh Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-keller/) > [I'm smart enough to know I am stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fitzjohn/i-m-smart-enough-to-know-i-am-stupid/) [Michael FitzJohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fitzjohn/) > [I'm smart enough to know that I'm dumb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-smart-enough-to-know-that-i-m-dumb/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Stop acting like you're smart and you know everything... it makes you look like a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-acting-like-you-re-smart-and-you-know-everything-it-makes-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Pitchers are smart. They know they are much better off if they mix things up and keep you off-balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harmon-killebrew/pitchers-are-smart-they-know-they-are-much-better-off-if-they-mix/) [Harmon Killebrew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harmon-killebrew/) ## More by Plato > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [You may be sure, dear Crito, that inaccurate language is not only in itself a mistake: it implants evil in men's souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/you-may-be-sure-dear-crito-that-inaccurate-language-is-not-only-in/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“If men learn this, it will implant forgetfulness in their souls; they will cease to exercise memory because they rely on that which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/if-men-learn-this-it-will-implant-forgetfulness-in-their-souls-they/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/knowledge-which-is-acquired-under-compulsion-obtains-no-hold-on-the/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I do not think it is permitted that a better man be harmed by a worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-do-not-think-it-is-permitted-that-a-better-man-be-harmed-by-a-worse/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Any city, however small, is in fact divided into two, one the city of the poor, the other of the rich; these are at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/any-city-however-small-is-in-fact-divided-into-two-one-the-city-of/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [When men speak ill of thee, live so as nobody may believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-men-speak-ill-of-thee-live-so-as-nobody-may-believe-them/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“The love of man to woman is a thing common and of course, and at first partakes more of instinct and passion than of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-love-of-man-to-woman-is-a-thing-common-and-of-course-and-at-first/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Strange times are these in which we live when old and young are taught in falsehood's school, and the one man that dares to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/strange-times-are-these-in-which-we-live-when-old-and-young-are/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“He was a wise man who invented God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/he-was-a-wise-man-who-invented-god/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [For let me tell you, that the more the pleasures of the body fade away, the greater to me is the pleasure and charm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/for-let-me-tell-you-that-the-more-the-pleasures-of-the-body-fade-away/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“What shall we say about those spectators, then, who can see a plurality of beautiful things, but not beauty itself, and who are incapable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/what-shall-we-say-about-those-spectators-then-who-can-see-a-plurality/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Geometry existed before creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/geometry-existed-before-creation/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [When men speak ill of thee, live so that nobody will believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-men-speak-ill-of-thee-live-so-that-nobody-will-believe-them/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [We must, if we are to be consistent, and if we re to have a real pedigree herd, mate the best of our men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/we-must-if-we-are-to-be-consistent-and-if-we-re-to-have-a-real/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) [Explore all 1,278 Plato quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## More Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [“As long as you keep searching,the answers will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/as-long-as-you-keep-searching-the-answers-will-come/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) [Browse all 7,843 Answers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I am smart because I know I nothing.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plato" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-am-smart-because-i-know-i-nothing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Answers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-am-smart-because-i-know-i-nothing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/plato-103_answers_i-am-smart-because-i-know-i-nothing-2607_2607901.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/plato-103_answers_i-am-smart-because-i-know-i-nothing-2607_2607901.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/plato-103_answers_i-am-smart-because-i-know-i-nothing-2607_2607901.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am smart because I know I nothing.” — Plato", "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": "Plato", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I am smart because I know...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-am-smart-because-i-know-i-nothing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-am-smart-because-i-know-i-nothing/#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 } } ] } ```