--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The knowledge of the ancients reached the…" description: "\"The knowledge of the ancients reached the highest point-the time before anything existed. This is the highest point. It is exhaustive. There is no addi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62e/zhuangzi-1341_creation_the-knowledge-of-the-ancients-reached-th_1237691.jpg" --- # The knowledge of the ancients reached the highest… ![“The knowledge of the ancients reached the highest point-the time before anything existed. This is the highest point. It is exhaustive. There is no adding to it.” quote by Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62e/zhuangzi-1341_creation_the-knowledge-of-the-ancients-reached-th_1237691.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62e/zhuangzi-1341_creation_the-knowledge-of-the-ancients-reached-th_1237691.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62e/zhuangzi-1341_creation_the-knowledge-of-the-ancients-reached-th_1237691.jpg) > “The knowledge of the ancients reached the highest point-the time before anything existed. This is the highest point. It is exhaustive. There is no adding to it.” [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ancient knowledge reached its ultimate, unchangeable form before anything else existed. **In simple terms:** Ancient wisdom is complete and final. Key Takeaway Recognize limits of past knowledge. Themes philosophy history ontology Mood contemplative reflective Type philosophical poetic When to use this quote - academic study - spiritual practice - cultural preservation Key Concepts epistemology completeness Questions to Reflect On - Can knowledge ever be truly complete? - How does this view affect modern learning? A Different Perspective May discount ongoing discovery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancients](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancients/) [Ancients Reached](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancients-reached-3851857/) [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Existed Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existed-highest-3851858/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highest/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Knowledge Ancients](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-ancients-3851856/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Time Existed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-existed-2794773/) ## Related quotes > [“Later times have laid all the blame upon the Goths and Vandals, but, however unwilling the partizans of the Christian system may be to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/later-times-have-laid-all-the-blame-upon-the-goths-and-vandals-but/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“In a way, finance was even better than art. It was nothing but an expression of potential, of power, of our present moment in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-chang/in-a-way-finance-was-even-better-than-art-it-was-nothing-but-an/) [Jade Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-chang/) > [“Maybe creating a legacy is all any of us are really after; why people have children, write books, compose music, paint pictures: so they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliana-buhring/maybe-creating-a-legacy-is-all-any-of-us-are-really-after-why-people/) [Juliana Buhring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliana-buhring/) > [“Time never existed, time will never exist, for time is existing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-attia/time-never-existed-time-will-never-exist-for-time-is-existing/) [Stephan Attia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-attia/) > [If there ever was a time that nothing existed, then nothing would exist now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/if-there-ever-was-a-time-that-nothing-existed-then-nothing-would/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [There has never been a time when you and I have not existed, nor will there be a time when we will cease to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagavad-gita/there-has-never-been-a-time-when-you-and-i-have-not-existed-nor-will/) [Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagavad-gita/) > [Why must ancients, and provided the same talent, be better than modern authors? Free to exploit the vast realm of the simpleand the natural,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/why-must-ancients-and-provided-the-same-talent-be-better-than-modern/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [I am not one who was born in the custody of wisdom; I am one who is fond of olden times and intense in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-courbet/i-am-not-one-who-was-born-in-the-custody-of-wisdom-i-am-one-who-is/) [Gustave Courbet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-courbet/) > [“That is to say, when the ancients experienced gaps in their understanding of the world around them, they filled those gaps with God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/that-is-to-say-when-the-ancients-experienced-gaps-in-their/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [“Certainly it's a rare glimpse into the lives of the Secular Ancients. They don't seem as bad as the Dominion histories make them out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-charles-wilson/certainly-it-s-a-rare-glimpse-into-the-lives-of-the-secular-ancients/) [Robert Charles Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-charles-wilson/) > [“One makes a great error if one believes there are 'ancients.' Only now is antiquity starting to arise. It arises in the eyes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/one-makes-a-great-error-if-one-believes-there-are-ancients-only-now/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [The ancients said: Hulk to be whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-ancients-said-hulk-to-be-whole/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The ancients understood the regulation of power better than the regulation of liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-dahlberg/the-ancients-understood-the-regulation-of-power-better-than-the/) [Edward Dahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-dahlberg/) > [And perhaps, posterity will thank me for having shown that the ancients did not know everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-fermat/and-perhaps-posterity-will-thank-me-for-having-shown-that-the/) [Pierre de Fermat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-fermat/) > [“Et peut-être la posterité me saura gré de lui avoir fait connaître que les Anciens n’ont pas tout su. ( And perhaps, posterity will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-fermat/et-peut-tre-la-posterit-me-saura-gr-de-lui-avoir-fait-conna-tre-que/) [Pierre De Fermat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-fermat/) ## More by Zhuangzi > [Sorrow and happiness are the heresies of virtue; joy and anger lead astray from TAO; love and hate cause loss of virtue. The heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/sorrow-and-happiness-are-the-heresies-of-virtue-joy-and-anger-lead/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [The enlightened attention rejects nothing nor welcomes anything-like a mirror it responds equally to all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/the-enlightened-attention-rejects-nothing-nor-welcomes-anything-like/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [If a man is crossing the river and an empty boat collides with his skiff, even though he is a bad tempered man he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/if-a-man-is-crossing-the-river-and-an-empty-boat-collides-with-his/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [Calculate what man knows and it cannot compare to what he doesn't know. Calculate the time he is alive and it cannot compare to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/calculate-what-man-knows-and-it-cannot-compare-to-what-he-doesn-t/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [Heaven cannot but be high. Earth cannot but be broad. The sun and moon cannot but revolve. All creation cannot but flourish. To do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/heaven-cannot-but-be-high-earth-cannot-but-be-broad-the-sun-and-moon/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [If you wish to care for your body, first of all take care of material things, though even when you have all the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/if-you-wish-to-care-for-your-body-first-of-all-take-care-of-material/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [As regards the quietude of the sage, he is not quiet because quietness is said to be good. He is quiet because the multitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/as-regards-the-quietude-of-the-sage-he-is-not-quiet-because-quietness/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [All existing things are really one. We regard those that are beautiful and rare as valuable, and those that are ugly as foul and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/all-existing-things-are-really-one-we-regard-those-that-are-beautiful/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [Now, when ordinary people attempt to find happiness, I am not sure whether the happiness is really happiness or not. I study what ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/now-when-ordinary-people-attempt-to-find-happiness-i-am-not-sure/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [Words exist because of meaning; once you’ve gotten the meaning, you can forget the words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/words-exist-because-of-meaning-once-you-ve-gotten-the-meaning-you-can/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [Easy is right. Begin right and you are easy. Continue easy and you are right. The right way to go easy is to forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/easy-is-right-begin-right-and-you-are-easy-continue-easy-and-you-are/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [Hence it demands the emptiness of all the faculties. And when the faculties are empty, then the whole being listens. There is then a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/hence-it-demands-the-emptiness-of-all-the-faculties-and-when-the/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [Everything has what is innate,everything has what is necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/everything-has-what-is-innate-everything-has-what-is-necessary/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [Where can I find a man who has forgotten words, so I can have a few words with him?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/where-can-i-find-a-man-who-has-forgotten-words-so-i-can-have-a-few/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [Standards are different for all things, so the standard set by man is by no means the only 'certain' standard. If you mistake what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/standards-are-different-for-all-things-so-the-standard-set-by-man-is/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) [Explore all 243 Zhuangzi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) ## More Ancients quotes > [“Et peut-être la posterité me saura gré de lui avoir fait connaître que les Anciens n’ont pas tout su. ( And perhaps, posterity will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-fermat/et-peut-tre-la-posterit-me-saura-gr-de-lui-avoir-fait-conna-tre-que/) [Pierre De Fermat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-fermat/) > [And perhaps, posterity will thank me for having shown that the ancients did not know everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-fermat/and-perhaps-posterity-will-thank-me-for-having-shown-that-the/) [Pierre de Fermat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-fermat/) > [The ancients understood the regulation of power better than the regulation of liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-dahlberg/the-ancients-understood-the-regulation-of-power-better-than-the/) [Edward Dahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-dahlberg/) > [The ancients said: Hulk to be whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-ancients-said-hulk-to-be-whole/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“One makes a great error if one believes there are 'ancients.' Only now is antiquity starting to arise. It arises in the eyes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/one-makes-a-great-error-if-one-believes-there-are-ancients-only-now/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [“Certainly it's a rare glimpse into the lives of the Secular Ancients. They don't seem as bad as the Dominion histories make them out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-charles-wilson/certainly-it-s-a-rare-glimpse-into-the-lives-of-the-secular-ancients/) [Robert Charles Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-charles-wilson/) > [“That is to say, when the ancients experienced gaps in their understanding of the world around them, they filled those gaps with God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/that-is-to-say-when-the-ancients-experienced-gaps-in-their/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [I am not one who was born in the custody of wisdom; I am one who is fond of olden times and intense in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-courbet/i-am-not-one-who-was-born-in-the-custody-of-wisdom-i-am-one-who-is/) [Gustave Courbet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-courbet/) > [Why must ancients, and provided the same talent, be better than modern authors? Free to exploit the vast realm of the simpleand the natural,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/why-must-ancients-and-provided-the-same-talent-be-better-than-modern/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [The ancients had a term in the mystical tradition called the Akashic Records, which was suggestive that nature didn't lose it's experience, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/the-ancients-had-a-term-in-the-mystical-tradition-called-the-akashic/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Some are so very studious of learning what was done by the ancients that they know not how to live with the moderns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/some-are-so-very-studious-of-learning-what-was-done-by-the-ancients/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [We could learn a lot from the ancients, and we should go back there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/we-could-learn-a-lot-from-the-ancients-and-we-should-go-back-there/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [The finest and most beautiful ideas on morals and manners have been swept away before our times, and nothing is left for us but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/the-finest-and-most-beautiful-ideas-on-morals-and-manners-have-been/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [Nothing truly convincing - which would possess thoroughness, vigor, and skill - has been written against the ancients as yet; especially not against their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wilhelm-friedrich-schlegel/nothing-truly-convincing-which-would-possess-thoroughness-vigor-and/) [Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wilhelm-friedrich-schlegel/) > [By comparing what we know today with what the ancients appear to have known we can guess at the kinds of wine they drank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-waugh/by-comparing-what-we-know-today-with-what-the-ancients-appear-to-have/) [Alec Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-waugh/) [Browse all 73 Ancients quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancients/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The knowledge of the ancients reached the highest point-the time before anything existed. 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