you know nothing."

Socrates

I know nothing but that doesnt make me a wise man.

Thats a pretty stupid phrase for such a clever man.

Far too inscrutable for me.

I can't get past the paradox in "knowing that you know nothing" - or the implication that true wisdom requires total ignorance.

I prefer this one...

"The only richness there is, is in understanding."

socrates wasnt saying that wisdom requires ignorance as skyhook stated...socrates wasnt even talking about amounts of knowledge...he was talking about being open...being able to grow within...like always being hungry to learn more and never learn enough about anything in the world...like insatiability...


when i think about .."knowing that we know nothing"...i think about what it means to be a parent...and no matter how much knowledge we get from whatever source..it always comes back to being open to differences in that individual...and grow as a compassionate human being within and making choices that are altruistic and not being afraid of not having all the answers...

so, Sgt. Schulz was a wise man??

The more I think I know, the dumber I become.

I know notheeenk!
I see notheeenk!

Welcome to the Science and Philosophy forum eartwoymn. It's always a pleasure to have another articulate viewpoint around.

Of course I knew exactly what the intention and "true meaning" of the quote was. I was simply playing devil's advocate while offering another quote that I thought aligned with the "true meaning" of the OP quote.

Just as Socrates' statement was intended to make us think about wisdom, my statement was intended to get us to think about his statement.

Yeah, I could have just acted the part of a good "Yes Man" and agreed - or refrained from posting at all. But that wouldn't have been any fun.

Again, welcome to the forums and enjoy yourself!

Here is something interesting about Socrates if I may

How did Socrates view the world?

He didn't leave us any writings, so we only know from the words of others. Socratic thought questioned everything: religion, politics, dogmas, and, "things everybody knows." He questioned not merely conclusions but the underlying assumptions, annoying the power structure of ancient Athens.

I know a little bit about a lot of things. Random reading does wonders for that!

So I always know that I don't know everything and that there is a lot left to learn.

That's part of what makes it fun!

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing"


I hear a humbleness... and a thought...perhaps an epiphany...even.

Knowledge , to me, is an accumulated dross.... I can read 20 000 books, attend 50 000 lectures, be tutored by 100 000 specialists in their field....and all I have is their knowing, now adopted as mine.


I can learn all about rain...and still not know what it is ...

Or I can walk outside and have it fall upon my head.... and be rain.

To me, to be the rain, is wisdom...

To know of the rain, is knowledge....

Wisdom........is applied knowledge

unapplied..... it is useless drivel

and therefore.......vanity

applied.....it can change the coarse of life

and History.

but what do I know??????

nothing!!!!!!!!

Of course! We believe you! haha

Experience is the only source of knowledge. One learns what they live. What is understanding but the ability to make a distinction? Distinction requires recognizing differences. The difference between knowledge and wisdom is the difference between knowing what and knowing why.

The one who knows nothing, and knows he knows nothing, knows more than the one who knows nothing and doesn't know he knows nothing.

or,

you just never know what you don't know until you know. you know?

Couldn't have said it better myself!!!

"Experience is the harshest teacher, because you fail the test before you recieve the lesson"

Here is my saying, I just made it up:

"First you have to be thirsty for knowledge before you actually know something".

Ok, another:

"Experience and knowledge are 2 different things. You could be very experienced and know so little".

another:

"Intelligence does not equal Knowledge. You could be the most intelligent person, if you don't know how to use it, it won't help you".

another:

"You could be the most intelligent and the most informed person, you won't be treated as such in an unintelligent and ignorant world. You will be an outcast".


"The more intelligent and knowledgeable you are, the more headaches you get, the more sad you will become in this cruel world. The question is, will you use it to change the world for the better? "