--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's very important to distinguish…" description: "\"It's very important to distinguish between what most people in the West think about knowledge, and what the Indian concept of knowledge is. In the West..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/robert-svoboda-42922_concepts_it-s-very-important-to-distinguish-betwe_2319647.png" --- # It's very important to distinguish between what most… ![“It's very important to distinguish between what most people in the West think about knowledge, and what the Indian concept of knowledge is. In the West the knowledge is something that is tangible, is material, it is something that can be transferred easily, can be bought and sold; or as in India…” quote by Robert Svoboda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/robert-svoboda-42922_concepts_it-s-very-important-to-distinguish-betwe_2319647.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/robert-svoboda-42922_concepts_it-s-very-important-to-distinguish-betwe_2319647.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/robert-svoboda-42922_concepts_it-s-very-important-to-distinguish-betwe_2319647.png) > “It's very important to distinguish between what most people in the West think about knowledge, and what the Indian concept of knowledge is. In the West the knowledge is something that is tangible, is material, it is something that can be transferred easily, can be bought and sold; or as in India real knowledge is something that is a living being - is a Vidya.” [Robert Svoboda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-svoboda/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Western knowledge is seen as tangible and transferable, while Indian tradition treats knowledge as a living, spiritual entity called Vidya. **In simple terms:** Western knowledge is material; Indian knowledge is living. Key Takeaway Recognize cultural lenses when discussing knowledge. Themes culture philosophy epistemology Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - education - cross‑cultural dialogue - personal growth - academic research Key Concepts materialism spirituality living knowledge Questions to Reflect On - How does viewing knowledge as living change learning? - Can both perspectives coexist? A Different Perspective Western view may overlook the experiential aspect of knowledge. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [India](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/india/) [Indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indian/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Real knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-knowledge/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“This is a book about questioning what others believe to be true, not accepting ideas just because famous people say they are right. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-aronson/this-is-a-book-about-questioning-what-others-believe-to-be-true-not/) Marc Aronson > [“To me, knowledge was power, and I wondered, if that was why adults kept it from children, why patricians kept it from plebeians. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karpov-kinrade/to-me-knowledge-was-power-and-i-wondered-if-that-was-why-adults-kept/) [Karpov Kinrade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karpov-kinrade/) > [Experience is the main reason why we're here, I think, in the world to gain experience and from our experience we gain knowledge. Oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/experience-is-the-main-reason-why-we-re-here-i-think-in-the-world-to/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [You can do anything you think you can. This knowledge is literally the gift of the gods, for through it you can solve every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/you-can-do-anything-you-think-you-can-this-knowledge-is-literally-the-2/) [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) > [Some people still think knowledge is power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/some-people-still-think-knowledge-is-power/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“I got the idea in my head - and I could not get it out - that college was just one more dopey, inane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-got-the-idea-in-my-head-and-i-could-not-get-it-out-that-college-was/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [“If you think you have enough knowledge,you are still ignorant; Be a learner always.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiva-negi/if-you-think-you-have-enough-knowledge-you-are-still-ignorant-be-a/) [Shiva Negi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiva-negi/) > [Never...stop at the boundaries of what you think your knowledge or training would suggest. If a problem grabs you, run with it and try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-rodin/never-stop-at-the-boundaries-of-what-you-think-your-knowledge-or/) [Judith Rodin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-rodin/) > [You can do anything you think you can. This knowledge is literally the gift of the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/you-can-do-anything-you-think-you-can-this-knowledge-is-literally-the/) [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) > [It turns out that in order to think well, knowledge helps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/it-turns-out-that-in-order-to-think-well-knowledge-helps/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [“Do you ever think about all the knowledge we pour into our brains and how soon they will turn into mush in the grave?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-waltke/do-you-ever-think-about-all-the-knowledge-we-pour-into-our-brains-and/) Bruce Waltke > [“The truth is never simple. It’s only in the Western world that you think knowledge is something you can acquire quickly and easily. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/the-truth-is-never-simple-it-s-only-in-the-western-world-that-you/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [“That was the worst. What happened was, I got the idea in my head - and I could not get it out - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/that-was-the-worst-what-happened-was-i-got-the-idea-in-my-head-and-i/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [I just think knowledge makes the world go 'round, man. So, if that makes me a geek, then cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chamillionaire/i-just-think-knowledge-makes-the-world-go-round-man-so-if-that-makes/) [Chamillionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chamillionaire/) > [The immature think that knowledge and action are different, but the wise see them as the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagavad-gita/the-immature-think-that-knowledge-and-action-are-different-but-the/) [Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagavad-gita/) ## More by Robert Svoboda > [The clothing is moving, the external version is moving. Whether the internal version is moving or not it is a different matter. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-svoboda/the-clothing-is-moving-the-external-version-is-moving-whether-the/) [Robert Svoboda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-svoboda/) > [We kill with antibiotics and antiseptics, and if our slaughter is ineffectual we use surgery to expel the offending organ from our presence. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-svoboda/we-kill-with-antibiotics-and-antiseptics-and-if-our-slaughter-is/) [Robert Svoboda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-svoboda/) > [You retain your health only so long as you are willing...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-svoboda/you-retain-your-health-only-so-long-as-you-are-willing/) [Robert Svoboda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-svoboda/) > [Living wisdom cannot be confined within words, but it can be hinted at through situations, much as a specific feature of an otherwise undistinguished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-svoboda/living-wisdom-cannot-be-confined-within-words-but-it-can-be-hinted-at/) [Robert Svoboda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-svoboda/) > [You have to be able to connect to the world of archetypes. That is not so easy, and most people in the West have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-svoboda/you-have-to-be-able-to-connect-to-the-world-of-archetypes-that-is-not/) [Robert Svoboda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-svoboda/) > [So Ayurveda is a bunch of techniques and theories and practices that have been accumulated over many centuries in a way that we think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-svoboda/so-ayurveda-is-a-bunch-of-techniques-and-theories-and-practices-that/) [Robert Svoboda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-svoboda/) > [“The fates lead him who will; him who won't they drag. - The Greatness of Saturn”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-svoboda/the-fates-lead-him-who-will-him-who-won-t-they-drag-the-greatness-of/) [Robert Svoboda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-svoboda/) > [So the problem in the West is that, especially in places like the USA, a person will obtain this much knowledge and immediately think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-svoboda/so-the-problem-in-the-west-is-that-especially-in-places-like-the-usa/) [Robert Svoboda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-svoboda/) > [“Just remember that learning is also a form of Maya. It is very valuable, no doubt, but you can still become attached to it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-svoboda/just-remember-that-learning-is-also-a-form-of-maya-it-is-very/) [Robert Svoboda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-svoboda/) [Explore all 10 Robert Svoboda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-svoboda/) ## More Concepts quotes > [Capability is just a concept of what is it we're looking at. Now how far we can go along that and what new capabilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/capability-is-just-a-concept-of-what-is-it-we-re-looking-at-now-how/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [Our concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake district or Wales where walking was part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/our-concept-of-a-family-holiday-was-going-to-a-guest-house-in-the/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [What is music? Music is language. A human being wants to express ideas in this language, but not ideas that can be translated into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/what-is-music-music-is-language-a-human-being-wants-to-express-ideas/) [Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [I do like talking with friends about big concepts, you know, the stuff that will ruin a party. To me, the party hasn't begun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/i-do-like-talking-with-friends-about-big-concepts-you-know-the-stuff/) [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) > [You imagine that I look back on my life's work with calm satisfaction. But from nearby it looks quite different. There is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/you-imagine-that-i-look-back-on-my-life-s-work-with-calm-satisfaction/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [For a physicist mathematics is not just a tool by means of which phenomena can be calculated, it is the main source of concepts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-dyson/for-a-physicist-mathematics-is-not-just-a-tool-by-means-of-which/) [Freeman Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-dyson/) > [One of the most powerful concepts, one which is a sure cure for lack of confidence, is the thought that God is with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/one-of-the-most-powerful-concepts-one-which-is-a-sure-cure-for-lack/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [All significant concepts of the modern theory of the state are secularized theological concepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/all-significant-concepts-of-the-modern-theory-of-the-state-are/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [So many times we come to Jesus in worship and ask Him for things that He already IS and has already done... What a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-nockels/so-many-times-we-come-to-jesus-in-worship-and-ask-him-for-things-that/) Christy Nockels > [ I don't think in national categories. For me it \[policy\] is about concepts and substance. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-don-t-think-in-national-categories-for-me-it-policy-is-about/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [In the very beginning, Yelp started as a service where we really didn't think people would write reviews for fun. The whole concept of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-stoppelman/in-the-very-beginning-yelp-started-as-a-service-where-we-really-didn/) [Jeremy Stoppelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-stoppelman/) > [To pray without expectation is to misunderstand the whole concept of prayer and relationship with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/to-pray-without-expectation-is-to-misunderstand-the-whole-concept-of/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) Browse all 2,468 Concepts quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's very important to distinguish between what most people in the West think about knowledge, and what the Indian concept of knowledge is. In the West the knowledge is something that is tangible, is material, it is something that can be transferred easily, can be bought and sold; or as in India real knowledge is something that is a living being - is a Vidya.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Svoboda" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-svoboda/it-s-very-important-to-distinguish-between-what-most-people-in-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Concepts" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-svoboda/it-s-very-important-to-distinguish-between-what-most-people-in-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/robert-svoboda-42922_concepts_it-s-very-important-to-distinguish-betwe_2319647.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/robert-svoboda-42922_concepts_it-s-very-important-to-distinguish-betwe_2319647.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/robert-svoboda-42922_concepts_it-s-very-important-to-distinguish-betwe_2319647.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's very important to distinguish between what most people in the West think about knowledge, and what the…” — Robert Svoboda", "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": "Robert Svoboda", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-svoboda/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's very important to distinguish between...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-svoboda/it-s-very-important-to-distinguish-between-what-most-people-in-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-svoboda/it-s-very-important-to-distinguish-between-what-most-people-in-the/#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 } } ] } ```