---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What you must realise Cobb, is that…"
description: "\"“What you must realise Cobb, is that sometimes the answer to a question is actually irrelevant; it is the search for that answer that is important. To ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/tony-rattigan-24944_knowledge_what-you-must-realise-cobb-is-that-somet_3195846.jpg"
---

#  What you must realise Cobb, is that sometimes the answer…

![“What you must realise Cobb, is that sometimes the answer to a question is actually irrelevant; it is the search for that answer that is important. To quest and to strive for knowledge brings its own growth and understanding.” quote by Tony Rattigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/tony-rattigan-24944_knowledge_what-you-must-realise-cobb-is-that-somet_3195846.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/tony-rattigan-24944_knowledge_what-you-must-realise-cobb-is-that-somet_3195846.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/tony-rattigan-24944_knowledge_what-you-must-realise-cobb-is-that-somet_3195846.jpg)

> ““What you must realise Cobb, is that sometimes the answer to a question is actually irrelevant; it is the search for that answer that is important. To quest and to strive for knowledge brings its own growth and understanding.””

[Tony Rattigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rattigan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The value lies not in the answer itself but in the process of seeking it, which fosters personal growth and deeper understanding.

**In simple terms:** Searching is more valuable than finding answers.

Key Takeaway

Embrace the quest for knowledge.

Themes

learning growth curiosity

Mood

reflective inquisitive

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- research projects
- personal reflection
- academic study
- creative problem solving

Key Concepts

Epistemology self‑development

Questions to Reflect On

- How does the pursuit of answers shape your identity?
- What would you learn from a question without a clear answer?

A Different Perspective

Answers may be irrelevant if they distract from continued inquiry.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Truth Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-seeking/)

## Related quotes

> [“What they call you is one thing, but what you answer to is so much more important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-benedict/what-they-call-you-is-one-thing-but-what-you-answer-to-is-so-much/)

Jeff Benedict

> [ \[To a woman whose cellphone rang during a formal meeting:\] You'd better answer that. It could be someone important. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-elizabeth-ii/to-a-woman-whose-cellphone-rang-during-a-formal-meeting-you-d-better/)

[Queen Elizabeth II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-elizabeth-ii/)

> [How to obtain freedom has been, and is, mankind's most important quest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pugsley/how-to-obtain-freedom-has-been-and-is-mankind-s-most-important-quest/)

[John Pugsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pugsley/)

> [SETI is probably the most important quest of our time , and it amazes me that governments and corporations are not supporting it sufficiently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/seti-is-probably-the-most-important-quest-of-our-time-and-it-amazes/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

> [To begin is the most important part of any quest and by far the most courageous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/to-begin-is-the-most-important-part-of-any-quest-and-by-far-the-most/)

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

> [“Knowledge brings understanding and acceptance, only then can healing beings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-spindler/knowledge-brings-understanding-and-acceptance-only-then-can-healing/)

[Erica Spindler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-spindler/)

> [Every advance in knowledge brings us face to face with the mystery of our own being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-planck/every-advance-in-knowledge-brings-us-face-to-face-with-the-mystery-of/)

[Max Planck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-planck/)

> [“Knowledge brings power. Hence writing brings power to modern societies, by making it possible to transmit knowledge with far greater accuracy and in far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-diamond/knowledge-brings-power-hence-writing-brings-power-to-modern-societies/)

[Jared Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-diamond/)

> [Restrain an inordinate desire for knowledge, in which is found much anxiety and deception. Learned men always wish to appear so, and desire recognition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/restrain-an-inordinate-desire-for-knowledge-in-which-is-found-much/)

[Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/)

> [The investment in knowledge brings about good interest if you can afford it. When you are too poor, you borrow it. Without knowledge, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariana-fulger/the-investment-in-knowledge-brings-about-good-interest-if-you-can/)

[Mariana Fulger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariana-fulger/)

> [Great knowledge brings great sorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/great-knowledge-brings-great-sorrow/)

[Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/)

> [“Are we not all one flesh? One mind? A sword brings power. Knowledge brings coin. With either, one can make blood reckoned, can earn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-galford/are-we-not-all-one-flesh-one-mind-a-sword-brings-power-knowledge/)

[Chris Galford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-galford/)

> [What are the relationships between power and knowledge? There are two bad, short answers: 1. Knowledge provides an instrument that those in power can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hacking/what-are-the-relationships-between-power-and-knowledge-there-are-two/)

[Ian Hacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hacking/)

> [“Knowledge Brings Awareness and Awareness Brings Success”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-johnston/knowledge-brings-awareness-and-awareness-brings-success/)

Dan Johnston

> [Travel gives a character of experience to our knowledge, and brings the figures on the tablet of memory into strong relief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-theodore-tuckerman/travel-gives-a-character-of-experience-to-our-knowledge-and-brings/)

[Henry Theodore Tuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-theodore-tuckerman/)

## More by Tony Rattigan

> [“And then there were her eyes. Two grey gimlets. They had a gaze that could strip wallpaper. They made you think that she could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rattigan/and-then-there-were-her-eyes-two-grey-gimlets-they-had-a-gaze-that/)

[Tony Rattigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rattigan/)

> [“I’m sorry, I thought you were together.’ ‘Why, do I look like an organ grinder?’ said Cobb.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rattigan/i-m-sorry-i-thought-you-were-together-why-do-i-look-like-an-organ/)

[Tony Rattigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rattigan/)

> [“Whatever the reason, they sold in the thousands, for Pickens had discovered that marketing truth … Sex Sells! Amongst his classic bestsellers were: David…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rattigan/whatever-the-reason-they-sold-in-the-thousands-for-pickens-had/)

[Tony Rattigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rattigan/)

> [“Oh for love of the Gods, thought Jim. The last thing I need right now is philosophical discussion with a madman, on a snowy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rattigan/oh-for-love-of-the-gods-thought-jim-the-last-thing-i-need-right-now/)

[Tony Rattigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rattigan/)

> [“So while you may be reading this sitting comfortably in your semi-detached in Cricklewood, a hundred Universes over, Captain Lars Felder of the Hyperion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rattigan/so-while-you-may-be-reading-this-sitting-comfortably-in-your-semi/)

[Tony Rattigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rattigan/)

> [“Do you ever have Deja Vu?’ ‘I could ask in the kitchen, see if they've got any in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rattigan/do-you-ever-have-deja-vu-i-could-ask-in-the-kitchen-see-if-they-ve/)

[Tony Rattigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rattigan/)

> [“Never eat at a restaurant that has a handbrake. Never buy food from any place that won’t be there next morning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rattigan/never-eat-at-a-restaurant-that-has-a-handbrake-never-buy-food-from/)

[Tony Rattigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rattigan/)

> [“Don't you wish you could do what birds do?' 'What ... make custard?' 'No, fly south for the winter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rattigan/don-t-you-wish-you-could-do-what-birds-do-what-make-custard-no-fly/)

[Tony Rattigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rattigan/)

> [“Your mother dresses you funny!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rattigan/your-mother-dresses-you-funny/)

[Tony Rattigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rattigan/)

> [“There’s no such thing as a noble death, Cobb ... there’s just death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rattigan/there-s-no-such-thing-as-a-noble-death-cobb-there-s-just-death/)

[Tony Rattigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rattigan/)

> [“She was one of those women that makes any red blooded male look at her and go, ‘Ah yes … now I remember why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rattigan/she-was-one-of-those-women-that-makes-any-red-blooded-male-look-at/)

[Tony Rattigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rattigan/)

> [“Oh dear thought Cobb. Never mind Father Yule, he sounds more like Ebenezer Scrimge from Charles Pickens’ book “A Yuletide Song”.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rattigan/oh-dear-thought-cobb-never-mind-father-yule-he-sounds-more-like/)

[Tony Rattigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rattigan/)

> [“Look,’ said Cobb, ‘I live in the city. The only wildlife I ever get to see is rats. If I want to catch a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rattigan/look-said-cobb-i-live-in-the-city-the-only-wildlife-i-ever-get-to-see/)

[Tony Rattigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rattigan/)

> [“He wasn’t really a spy; he just helped them out when they were busy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rattigan/he-wasn-t-really-a-spy-he-just-helped-them-out-when-they-were-busy/)

[Tony Rattigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rattigan/)

> [“That’s the trouble these days, too much Sax and Violins in the theatre.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rattigan/that-s-the-trouble-these-days-too-much-sax-and-violins-in-the-theatre/)

[Tony Rattigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rattigan/)

[Explore all 23 Tony Rattigan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rattigan/)

## 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

> [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": "“What you must realise Cobb, is that sometimes the answer to a question is actually irrelevant; it is the search for that answer that is important. To quest and to strive for knowledge brings its own growth and understanding.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Tony Rattigan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rattigan/what-you-must-realise-cobb-is-that-sometimes-the-answer-to-a-question/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Knowledge"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rattigan/what-you-must-realise-cobb-is-that-sometimes-the-answer-to-a-question/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/tony-rattigan-24944_knowledge_what-you-must-realise-cobb-is-that-somet_3195846.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/tony-rattigan-24944_knowledge_what-you-must-realise-cobb-is-that-somet_3195846.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/tony-rattigan-24944_knowledge_what-you-must-realise-cobb-is-that-somet_3195846.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What you must realise Cobb, is that sometimes the answer to a question is actually irrelevant; it is the…” — Tony Rattigan",
                "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": "Tony Rattigan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rattigan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“What you must realise Cobb, is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rattigan/what-you-must-realise-cobb-is-that-sometimes-the-answer-to-a-question/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rattigan/what-you-must-realise-cobb-is-that-sometimes-the-answer-to-a-question/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
