--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you possess knowledge others do not…" description: "\"When you possess knowledge others do not, you still do not have the right to play god.\" — Sabian Mark S Henry De Long" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/sabian-mark-s-henry-de-long-60_knowledge_when-you-possess-knowledge-others-do-not_2983048.jpg" --- # When you possess knowledge others do not, you still do not… ![“When you possess knowledge others do not, you still do not have the right to play god.” quote by Sabian Mark S Henry De Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/sabian-mark-s-henry-de-long-60_knowledge_when-you-possess-knowledge-others-do-not_2983048.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/sabian-mark-s-henry-de-long-60_knowledge_when-you-possess-knowledge-others-do-not_2983048.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/sabian-mark-s-henry-de-long-60_knowledge_when-you-possess-knowledge-others-do-not_2983048.jpg) > “When you possess knowledge others do not, you still do not have the right to play god.” [Sabian Mark S Henry De Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabian-mark-s-henry-de-long/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Having knowledge does not grant the moral right to act like a deity. **In simple terms:** Knowledge alone doesn’t justify playing god. Key Takeaway Exercise humility with expertise. Themes ethics knowledge power dynamics Mood cautionary thought‑provoking Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - leadership - policy making - research ethics Key Concepts philosophy of science responsibility Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to intervene? - How do you check your own bias? A Different Perspective Power can corrupt even well‑intentioned experts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-right-1344997/) [Life lesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-lesson/) [Play God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-god/) [Possess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possess/) [Possess Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possess-knowledge-248592/) ## Related quotes > [“There is no better insurance than the knowledge of how to do something the right way. There is no greater peace of mind than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-g-west/there-is-no-better-insurance-than-the-knowledge-of-how-to-do/) [Jerry G. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-g-west/) > [I'm standing on the knowledge that I'm right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-kat-ulani/i-m-standing-on-the-knowledge-that-i-m-right/) [Princess Kat'ulani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-kat-ulani/) > [Creativity requires quite a lot of faith - not just in yourself but also in the knowledge that you have the right to proceed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/creativity-requires-quite-a-lot-of-faith-not-just-in-yourself-but/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [“There are two types of knowledge. One is about what is right and wrong, what is helpful and harmful in this world, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/there-are-two-types-of-knowledge-one-is-about-what-is-right-and-wrong/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“...action is in fact knowledge in operation. Right action stems from right knowledge. Right knowledge is acquired through the teacher.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/action-is-in-fact-knowledge-in-operation-right-action-stems-from/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [Justice implies knowledge of the right and proper place for a thing or a being to be; of right as against wrong; of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syed-muhammad-naquib-al-attas/justice-implies-knowledge-of-the-right-and-proper-place-for-a-thing/) [Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syed-muhammad-naquib-al-attas/) > [Within the extent of your knowledge, you are right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/within-the-extent-of-your-knowledge-you-are-right/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“If it is true that we cannot possess knowledge of what is good in any absolute sense, it is equally true that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kearney/if-it-is-true-that-we-cannot-possess-knowledge-of-what-is-good-in-any/) [Richard Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kearney/) > [How can those who possess all knowledge, which must include knowledge of life that is worth living, be interested in using knowledge only for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-goldstein/how-can-those-who-possess-all-knowledge-which-must-include-knowledge/) [Rebecca Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-goldstein/) > [“We often trick ourselves into thinking that we possess enough knowledge or control over any given situation to make correct choices. Maybe that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-fraseur/we-often-trick-ourselves-into-thinking-that-we-possess-enough/) [Spencer Fraseur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-fraseur/) > [“possess knowledge in order to standardize your choice for your choices in life are the true answers to your destiny”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ojo-emmanuel-david/possess-knowledge-in-order-to-standardize-your-choice-for-your/) [ojo emmanuel david](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ojo-emmanuel-david/) > [It is doubtless very desirable, that private persons should have a correct knowledge of their personal interests; but it must be infinitely more so,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/it-is-doubtless-very-desirable-that-private-persons-should-have-a/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [“My illusions about the world caused me to think that in order to benefit by my reading I ought to possess all the knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/my-illusions-about-the-world-caused-me-to-think-that-in-order-to/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [“I mean that one cannot expect to possess knowledge which does not change one. Once one knows, then one is acting upon that knowledge,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/i-mean-that-one-cannot-expect-to-possess-knowledge-which-does-not/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [All wish to possess knowledge, but few, comparatively speaking, are willing to pay the price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/all-wish-to-possess-knowledge-but-few-comparatively-speaking-are/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) ## More by Sabian Mark S Henry De Long > [Its hard to be right, in a reality which is so wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabian-mark-s-henry-de-long/its-hard-to-be-right-in-a-reality-which-is-so-wrong/) [Sabian Mark S Henry De Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabian-mark-s-henry-de-long/) > [Perspective; your own choice of heaven or hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabian-mark-s-henry-de-long/perspective-your-own-choice-of-heaven-or-hell/) [Sabian Mark S Henry De Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabian-mark-s-henry-de-long/) > [It's easier to live within a dream, than it is to live within reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabian-mark-s-henry-de-long/it-s-easier-to-live-within-a-dream-than-it-is-to-live-within-reality/) [Sabian Mark S Henry De Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabian-mark-s-henry-de-long/) > [When your clock is counting faster than you, you can see that you are wasting time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabian-mark-s-henry-de-long/when-your-clock-is-counting-faster-than-you-you-can-see-that-you-are/) [Sabian Mark S Henry De Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabian-mark-s-henry-de-long/) [Explore all 5 Sabian Mark S Henry De Long quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabian-mark-s-henry-de-long/) ## More Knowledge quotes > [“Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabelaise/knowledge-without-conscience-is-but-the-ruin-of-the-soul/) [Rabelaise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabelaise/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I never knew any man who had once tasted the sweetness of experimental knowledge, that ever afterward fasted after ye Vapour garlick and onions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-zimmer/i-never-knew-any-man-who-had-once-tasted-the-sweetness-of/) [Carl Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-zimmer/) > [I would rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent than in the extent of my powers and dominion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowledge-of-what-is-excellent/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I've always been a believer in research. It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [I am an aware citizen, so I want my characters to be aware, too. They should be aware of what's happening in the society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-tripathi/i-am-an-aware-citizen-so-i-want-my-characters-to-be-aware-too-they/) [Pankaj Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-tripathi/) > [Technology means the systematic application of scientific or other organized knowledge to practical tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/technology-means-the-systematic-application-of-scientific-or-other/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Love is a vision,love carry our vision,and love by-step our vision. we carry our love to our by-step. once love is vision love is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-a-vision-love-carry-our-vision-and-love-by-step-our-vision-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Man is an ignoramus athirst for knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-wagner/man-is-an-ignoramus-athirst-for-knowledge/) [Charles Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-wagner/) [Browse all 13,227 Knowledge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you possess knowledge others do not, you still do not have the right to play god.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sabian Mark S Henry De Long" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabian-mark-s-henry-de-long/when-you-possess-knowledge-others-do-not-you-still-do-not-have-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Knowledge" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabian-mark-s-henry-de-long/when-you-possess-knowledge-others-do-not-you-still-do-not-have-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/sabian-mark-s-henry-de-long-60_knowledge_when-you-possess-knowledge-others-do-not_2983048.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/sabian-mark-s-henry-de-long-60_knowledge_when-you-possess-knowledge-others-do-not_2983048.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/sabian-mark-s-henry-de-long-60_knowledge_when-you-possess-knowledge-others-do-not_2983048.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you possess knowledge others do not, you still do not have the right to play god.” — Sabian Mark S Henry De Long", "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": "Sabian Mark S Henry De Long", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabian-mark-s-henry-de-long/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you possess knowledge others do...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabian-mark-s-henry-de-long/when-you-possess-knowledge-others-do-not-you-still-do-not-have-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabian-mark-s-henry-de-long/when-you-possess-knowledge-others-do-not-you-still-do-not-have-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 } } ] } ```