--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And I realized a wondrous truth: that…" description: "\"And I realized a wondrous truth: that knowledge could be our treasure, that there were things humankind knew that we did not, that our conquest need no..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e9/rachel-hartman-6350_compassion_and-i-realized-a-wondrous-truth-that-kno_2262830.jpg" --- # And I realized a wondrous truth: that knowledge could be… ![“And I realized a wondrous truth: that knowledge could be our treasure, that there were things humankind knew that we did not, that our conquest need not comprise taking and killing, but could consist of our mutual conquest of ignorance and distrust.” quote by Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e9/rachel-hartman-6350_compassion_and-i-realized-a-wondrous-truth-that-kno_2262830.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e9/rachel-hartman-6350_compassion_and-i-realized-a-wondrous-truth-that-kno_2262830.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e9/rachel-hartman-6350_compassion_and-i-realized-a-wondrous-truth-that-kno_2262830.jpg) > “And I realized a wondrous truth: that knowledge could be our treasure, that there were things humankind knew that we did not, that our conquest need not comprise taking and killing, but could consist of our mutual conquest of ignorance and distrust.” [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True knowledge is a shared treasure that grows when we confront ignorance and mistrust together, rather than through domination. **In simple terms:** Learning together beats conquering others. Key Takeaway Seek shared understanding, not domination. Themes knowledge trust collaboration humility Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - education reform - team projects - community dialogues - conflict resolution Key Concepts epistemology social cohesion ethical growth Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster mutual curiosity in hostile environments? - What barriers prevent shared learning? A Different Perspective Assumes all parties are willing to engage openly, which may not hold true. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conquest/) [Distrust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distrust/) [Humankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humankind/) [Humankind Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humankind-knew-5213046/) [I realized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-realized/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Ignorance Distrust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance-distrust-5213048/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Mutual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutual/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Realized Wondrous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realized-wondrous-5213049/) [Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treasure/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-knowledge-516926/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wondrous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wondrous/) [Wondrous Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wondrous-truth-5213047/) ## Related quotes > [The Absolute Truth of Knowledge is precisely non-Knowledge. If this Mirror called Knowledge remains in the phase where nothing is reflected in it, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/the-absolute-truth-of-knowledge-is-precisely-non-knowledge-if-this/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [“In truth, knowledge is a great and very useful quality; those who despise it give evidence enough of their stupidity. Yet I do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/in-truth-knowledge-is-a-great-and-very-useful-quality-those-who/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Breaking into a system or exposing its weaknesses is a good thing because truth and knowledge must win out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-farmer/breaking-into-a-system-or-exposing-its-weaknesses-is-a-good-thing/) [Dan Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-farmer/) > [Hasn't knowledge only crippled me from seeing truth? Is knowledge itself illusory?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/hasn-t-knowledge-only-crippled-me-from-seeing-truth-is-knowledge/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Where there is truth, there also is knowledge which is true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/where-there-is-truth-there-also-is-knowledge-which-is-true/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [When we value correct principles, we have truth - a knowledge of things as they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/when-we-value-correct-principles-we-have-truth-a-knowledge-of-things/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Even the facts of science may dust the mind by their dryness, unless they are ... rendered fertile by the dews of fresh and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/even-the-facts-of-science-may-dust-the-mind-by-their-dryness-unless/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“The price you pay for truth is knowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/the-price-you-pay-for-truth-is-knowledge/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [“There is truth and knowledge beyond understanding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/there-is-truth-and-knowledge-beyond-understanding/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [All those formal systems, in mathematics and physics and the philosophy of science, which claim to give foundations for certain truth are surely mistaken.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-bronowski/all-those-formal-systems-in-mathematics-and-physics-and-the/) [Jacob Bronowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-bronowski/) > [“I spoke to you all of the Wheel,” he said quietly. “The Wheel turns and unless we are alert an opportunity is snatched or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talbot-mundy/i-spoke-to-you-all-of-the-wheel-he-said-quietly-the-wheel-turns-and/) [Talbot Mundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talbot-mundy/) > [Knowledge, or more expressively truth,--for knowledge is truth received into our intelligence,--truth is an ideal whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sterling/knowledge-or-more-expressively-truth-for-knowledge-is-truth-received/) [John Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sterling/) > [Do not try to know the truth, for knowledge by the mind is not true knowledge. But you can know what is not true-which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/do-not-try-to-know-the-truth-for-knowledge-by-the-mind-is-not-true/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [Truth is not found by knowledge, it is found by silence. And knowledge is noisy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/truth-is-not-found-by-knowledge-it-is-found-by-silence-and-knowledge/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“Science promised us truth, or at least a knowledge of such relations as our intelligence can seize: it never promised us peace or happiness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-le-bon/science-promised-us-truth-or-at-least-a-knowledge-of-such-relations/) [Gustave Le Bon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-le-bon/) ## More by Rachel Hartman > [“A feeling rose in me, and I just let it, because what harm could it do? It only had another thirty-two adagio bars of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/a-feeling-rose-in-me-and-i-just-let-it-because-what-harm-could-it-do/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [Sometimes the truth has difficulty breaching the city walls of our beliefs. A lie, dressed in the correct livery, passes through more easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/sometimes-the-truth-has-difficulty-breaching-the-city-walls-of-our/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [I barely noticed loneliness anymore; it was my normal condition, by necessity if not by nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/i-barely-noticed-loneliness-anymore-it-was-my-normal-condition-by/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“It's such a relief after all these years to learn that you recovered from your fright," he said in a low voice, giving my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/it-s-such-a-relief-after-all-these-years-to-learn-that-you-recovered/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“There are melodies that speak as eloquently as words, that flow logically and inevitably from a single, pure emotion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/there-are-melodies-that-speak-as-eloquently-as-words-that-flow/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“Sir James waved a gnarled hand. "They're nothing but feral file clerks, dragons. They used to alphabetize the coins in their hoards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/sir-james-waved-a-gnarled-hand-they-re-nothing-but-feral-file-clerks/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“He didn’t wear his heart on his sleeve, exactly, but he did keep it in a place where I could see it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/he-didn-t-wear-his-heart-on-his-sleeve-exactly-but-he-did-keep-it-in/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“I’m attracting small children,” Orma muttered, twisting his hat in his hands. “Shoo it away, will you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/i-m-attracting-small-children-orma-muttered-twisting-his-hat-in-his/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“I heard you, sought you, and have found you. I have reached for you, across space and sense and the laws of nature. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/i-heard-you-sought-you-and-have-found-you-i-have-reached-for-you/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“I saw the void beneath the surface of the world; it threatened to pull me under.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/i-saw-the-void-beneath-the-surface-of-the-world-it-threatened-to-pull/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“Art is a conversation we are all invited to and are all worthy to participate in. Yes, great works can be intimidating, but no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/art-is-a-conversation-we-are-all-invited-to-and-are-all-worthy-to/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [The twin gods, Necessity and Chance, walked among the stars. What needed to be, was; what might be, sometimes was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/the-twin-gods-necessity-and-chance-walked-among-the-stars-what-needed/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“Ah, I could last a long time on those smiles. I would sow and reap them like wheat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/ah-i-could-last-a-long-time-on-those-smiles-i-would-sow-and-reap-them/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“Who will kiss you? Who will rock you to sleep?" His voice was slow, drowsy. "You never did," I said, trying to tease him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/who-will-kiss-you-who-will-rock-you-to-sleep-his-voice-was-slow/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“He was impugning my virtue. I ought to have been offended, but for some reason the idea tickled me. That could be my next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/he-was-impugning-my-virtue-i-ought-to-have-been-offended-but-for-some/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) [Explore all 97 Rachel Hartman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) [Segun Magbagbeola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/segun-magbagbeola/) > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) [Talib al Habib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-al-habib/) > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "And I realized a wondrous truth: that knowledge could be our treasure, that there were things humankind knew that we did not, that our conquest need not comprise taking and killing, but could consist of our mutual conquest of ignorance and distrust.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rachel Hartman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/and-i-realized-a-wondrous-truth-that-knowledge-could-be-our-treasure/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compassion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/and-i-realized-a-wondrous-truth-that-knowledge-could-be-our-treasure/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e9/rachel-hartman-6350_compassion_and-i-realized-a-wondrous-truth-that-kno_2262830.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e9/rachel-hartman-6350_compassion_and-i-realized-a-wondrous-truth-that-kno_2262830.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e9/rachel-hartman-6350_compassion_and-i-realized-a-wondrous-truth-that-kno_2262830.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And I realized a wondrous truth: that knowledge could be our treasure, that there were things humankind knew…” — Rachel Hartman", "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": "Rachel Hartman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "And I realized a wondrous truth:...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/and-i-realized-a-wondrous-truth-that-knowledge-could-be-our-treasure/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/and-i-realized-a-wondrous-truth-that-knowledge-could-be-our-treasure/#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 } } ] } ```