---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Numbers are the highest degree of…"
description: "\"Numbers are the highest degree of knowledge. It is knowledge itself.\" — Plato"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/plato-103_degrees_numbers-are-the-highest-degree-of-knowle_1329471.jpg"
---

#  Numbers are the highest degree of knowledge. It is…

![“Numbers are the highest degree of knowledge. It is knowledge itself.” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/plato-103_degrees_numbers-are-the-highest-degree-of-knowle_1329471.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/plato-103_degrees_numbers-are-the-highest-degree-of-knowle_1329471.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/plato-103_degrees_numbers-are-the-highest-degree-of-knowle_1329471.jpg)

> “Numbers are the highest degree of knowledge. It is knowledge itself.”

[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.

Knowledge is the highest form of understanding; it is the essence of knowing.

**In simple terms:** Knowledge is the ultimate understanding.

Key Takeaway

Seek deep understanding as the core of knowledge.

Themes

philosophy epistemology knowledge truth wisdom

Mood

contemplative inquisitive

Type

philosophical educational

When to use this quote

- academic study
- critical thinking
- philosophical debate
- research methodology

Key Concepts

Forms intellectual hierarchy conceptual clarity

Questions to Reflect On

- What does “knowledge itself” mean to you?
- How can we translate deep knowledge into action?

A Different Perspective

Knowledge can be abstract and hard to apply practically.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Degree Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degree-knowledge-3621671/) [Degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees/) [Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highest/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-knowledge/) [Math](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/math/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Numbers Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers-highest-4456730/)

## Related quotes

> [“Mahirap ngayon ang educational system. They're out for the degree, not knowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambeth-ocampo/mahirap-ngayon-ang-educational-system-they-re-out-for-the-degree-not/)

[Ambeth Ocampo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambeth-ocampo/)

> [Geometry existed before creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/geometry-existed-before-creation/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [Action not backed by knowledge and knowledge not translatable into action, both can not stand the test of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pandurang-shastri-athavale/action-not-backed-by-knowledge-and-knowledge-not-translatable-into/)

[Pandurang Shastri Athavale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pandurang-shastri-athavale/)

> [“Imagination is more important than knowledge." With due respect to Mr. Einstein, "Imagination is impossible without knowledge!" "Knowledge is the base of imagination" For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iareabook/imagination-is-more-important-than-knowledge-with-due-respect-to-mr-2/)

[IareAbook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iareabook/)

> [Fighting is about knowledge, knowledge is a very important part of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/fighting-is-about-knowledge-knowledge-is-a-very-important-part-of-it/)

[Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/)

> [Everyone recognizes a distinction between knowledge and wisdom. . . Wisdom is a kind of knowledge. It is knowledge of the nature, career, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-hook/everyone-recognizes-a-distinction-between-knowledge-and-wisdom-wisdom/)

[Sidney Hook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-hook/)

> [“Knowledge: knowledge can be dangerous, dangerous for you or for others interacting with you, therefore again dangerous for you. Always treat it with respect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florian-armas/knowledge-knowledge-can-be-dangerous-dangerous-for-you-or-for-others/)

[Florian Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florian-armas/)

> [We strive toward knowledge, always more knowledge, but must understand that we are, and will remain, surrounded by mystery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcelo-gleiser/we-strive-toward-knowledge-always-more-knowledge-but-must-understand/)

[Marcelo Gleiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcelo-gleiser/)

> [“Our heads are filled with ‘knowledge’, a knowledge that in some areas pre-empts our seeing anything at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/our-heads-are-filled-with-knowledge-a-knowledge-that-in-some-areas/)

[Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/)

> [Philosophical knowledge is the knowledge gained by reason from concepts ; mathematical knowledge is the knowledge gained by reason from the construction of concepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/philosophical-knowledge-is-the-knowledge-gained-by-reason-from/)

[Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/)

> [Knowledge does away with darkness, suspense, and doubt; for these cannot exist where knowledge is . . . In knowledge there is power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/knowledge-does-away-with-darkness-suspense-and-doubt-for-these-cannot/)

[Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/)

> [Braille is knowledge, and knowledge is power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-braille/braille-is-knowledge-and-knowledge-is-power/)

[Louis Braille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-braille/)

> [“Throw all knowledge, because knowledge is needed only when you have to do something. When you don’t have to do anything, what knowledge is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/throw-all-knowledge-because-knowledge-is-needed-only-when-you-have-to/)

[Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/)

> [“Real wisdom is not the knowledge of everything, but the knowledge of which things in life are necessary, which are less necessary, and which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jaques-rousseau-2/real-wisdom-is-not-the-knowledge-of-everything-but-the-knowledge-of/)

[Jean Jaques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jaques-rousseau-2/)

> [“Knowledge is knowledge whether it teaches you construction or destruction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/knowledge-is-knowledge-whether-it-teaches-you-construction-or/)

[M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/)

## 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 Degrees quotes

> [ \[Photography is \] likewise even French impressionists. So the Sculls bought pop. It was politics, and they moved with it. And I think that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/photography-is-likewise-even-french-impressionists-so-the-sculls/)

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

> [The Only cure for nihilism is for liberal democratic societies - their electorates, their judiciary, and their political leadership- to insist that force is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-only-cure-for-nihilism-is-for-liberal-democratic-societies-their/)

[Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/)

> [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/)

[Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/)

> [I was a full time student either at Stony Brook or NYU getting my masters degree. After I graduated with my masters I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-algieri/i-was-a-full-time-student-either-at-stony-brook-or-nyu-getting-my/)

[Chris Algieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-algieri/)

> [Life comes from death. To the degree that I can live in the death of Jesus - to that degree I can channel God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/life-comes-from-death-to-the-degree-that-i-can-live-in-the-death-of/)

[Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/)

> [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [As hard as I try to live with some degree of faith in my life, I just can't believe that the full moon can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/as-hard-as-i-try-to-live-with-some-degree-of-faith-in-my-life-i-just/)

[Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/)

> [The male dares to be different to the degree that he accepts his passivity and his desire to be female, his fagginess. The farthest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-solanas/the-male-dares-to-be-different-to-the-degree-that-he-accepts-his/)

[Valerie Solanas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-solanas/)

> [ What are you for? It may be, to a degree, consoling that white brothers and sisters did not vote for \[Donald\] Trump, and do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/what-are-you-for-it-may-be-to-a-degree-consoling-that-white-brothers/)

[Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/)

> [My mother taught me three things, respect, knowledge-search for knowledge, it's an eternal journey. That's like my hair-cut, the line, 360 degrees, find knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/my-mother-taught-me-three-things-respect-knowledge-search-for/)

[Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/)

> [I work with different actors with varied degrees of experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-baker/i-work-with-different-actors-with-varied-degrees-of-experience/)

[Sean Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-baker/)

> [We are only alive to the degree that we can let ourselves be moved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hyde/we-are-only-alive-to-the-degree-that-we-can-let-ourselves-be-moved/)

[Lewis Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hyde/)

> [Like many others, I have deep misgivings about the state of education in the United States. Too many of our students fail to graduate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/like-many-others-i-have-deep-misgivings-about-the-state-of-education/)

[Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/)

> [The insolence of base minds in success is boundless; and would scarce admit of a comparison, did not they themselves furnish us with one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-insolence-of-base-minds-in-success-is-boundless-and-would-scarce/)

[Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/)

> [Each year we pump at least six billion tons of heat-trapping carbon into the innermost layer of our atmosphere, whose outer extent is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-gelbspan/each-year-we-pump-at-least-six-billion-tons-of-heat-trapping-carbon/)

[Ross Gelbspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-gelbspan/)

[Browse all 3,453 Degrees quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Numbers are the highest degree of knowledge. It is knowledge itself.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Plato"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/numbers-are-the-highest-degree-of-knowledge-it-is-knowledge-itself/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Degrees"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/numbers-are-the-highest-degree-of-knowledge-it-is-knowledge-itself/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/plato-103_degrees_numbers-are-the-highest-degree-of-knowle_1329471.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/plato-103_degrees_numbers-are-the-highest-degree-of-knowle_1329471.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/plato-103_degrees_numbers-are-the-highest-degree-of-knowle_1329471.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Numbers are the highest degree of knowledge. It is knowledge itself.” — 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": "Numbers are the highest degree of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/numbers-are-the-highest-degree-of-knowledge-it-is-knowledge-itself/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/numbers-are-the-highest-degree-of-knowledge-it-is-knowledge-itself/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
