--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Try to say that: “I don't know anything”…" description: "\"“Try to say that: “I don't know anything”. We used to call it “tabula rasa” in Latin. Maybe you could think of yourself as an erased blackboard, ready ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1c/richard-rohr-618_blind-man_try-to-say-that-i-don-t-know-anything-we_1781431.jpg" --- # Try to say that: “I don't know anything”. We used to call… ![“Try to say that: “I don't know anything”. We used to call it “tabula rasa” in Latin. Maybe you could think of yourself as an erased blackboard, ready to be written on. For by and large, what blocks spiritual teaching is the assumption that we already know, or that we don't need to know. We have to…” quote by Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1c/richard-rohr-618_blind-man_try-to-say-that-i-don-t-know-anything-we_1781431.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1c/richard-rohr-618_blind-man_try-to-say-that-i-don-t-know-anything-we_1781431.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1c/richard-rohr-618_blind-man_try-to-say-that-i-don-t-know-anything-we_1781431.jpg) > ““Try to say that: “I don't know anything”. We used to call it “tabula rasa” in Latin. Maybe you could think of yourself as an erased blackboard, ready to be written on. For by and large, what blocks spiritual teaching is the assumption that we already know, or that we don't need to know. We have to pray for the grace of beginner's mind. We need to say with the blind man, “I want to see”.”” [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adopting a beginner’s mind, like a blank slate, opens us to learning and spiritual growth, free from preconceptions. **In simple terms:** Start fresh to learn and grow spiritually. Key Takeaway Cultivate humility and openness. Themes spirituality learning humility Mood contemplative encouraging Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal meditation - study groups - mindfulness retreats - interfaith dialogues Key Concepts beginner’s mind tabula rasa self‑inquiry prayer Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice a beginner’s mind daily? - What blocks your willingness to start anew? A Different Perspective Some may resist humility, fearing loss of status or certainty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spiritual teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-teaching/) [Tabula rasa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tabula-rasa/) ## Related quotes > [“Say to a blind man, you’re free, open the door that was separating him from the world, Go, you are free, we tell him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/say-to-a-blind-man-you-re-free-open-the-door-that-was-separating-him/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [They say a blind hog will find the acorn one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/they-say-a-blind-hog-will-find-the-acorn-one-day/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [I want to say I'm sorry, I want you to know I care, I want to say I'm blind for seeing something that wasnt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana/i-want-to-say-i-m-sorry-i-want-you-to-know-i-care-i-want-to-say-i-m/) [Ana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana/) > [Let us say it now: to be blind and to be loved, is indeed, upon this earth where nothing is complete, one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/let-us-say-it-now-to-be-blind-and-to-be-loved-is-indeed-upon-this/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [LOVE, Something they say is blind -- it's marriage which is the real eye opener;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/love-something-they-say-is-blind-it-s-marriage-which-is-the-real-eye/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [As they say of the blind, Sounds are the things I see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/as-they-say-of-the-blind-sounds-are-the-things-i-see/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [A lot of people say I can't do it because I'm blind, or I have red hair, or my feet are too big. 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Seven hours I played, but at the end he said he saw them, green and red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/once-i-sang-colors-to-a-blind-man-seven-hours-i-played-but-at-the-end/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [ “The object \[Duchamp's Fountain\] was rejected , giving Duchamp the opportunity of issuing a statement, which he published in a review, The Blind Man.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-weston/the-object-duchamp-s-fountain-was-rejected-giving-duchamp-the/) [Neville Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-weston/) > [A blind man can see his mouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-blind-man-can-see-his-mouth/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Then he picks up the first book and holds it so Peter can read the title. 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