No man can reveal to you nothing but that which already lies half-asleep in the dawning of your knowledge.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
When you see a rattlesnake poised to strike you, do not wait until he has struck before you crush him.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
Between us, we cover all knowledge; he knows all that can be known and I know the rest.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Knowledge is a polite word for dead but not buried imagination.
—e. e. cummings (1894–1962) American Poet, Writer, Painter
An age is called “dark,” not because the light fails to shine, but because people refuse to see it.
—James A. Michener (1907–97) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Historian
Hatred is the sign of a secret attraction that is eager to flee from itself and furious to deny its own existence. That too is God’s play in His creature.
—Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950) Indian Mystic, Philosopher, Poet
They are so knowing, that they know nothing.
—Terence (c.195–159 BCE) Roman Comic Dramatist
If you are interested, you never have to look for new interests. They come to you. When you are genuinely interested in one thing, it will always lead to something else.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Reading maketh a full man; conference, a ready man: histories make men wise; poets, witty; the mathematics, subtle; natural philosophy, deep; moral philosophy, grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
If we value the pursuit of knowledge, we must be free to follow wherever that search may lead us. The free mind is not a barking dog, to be tethered on a ten-foot chain.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
Knowledge is the treasure, but judgment is the treasurer of the one who is wise.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
Accurate knowledge is the basis of correct opinions; the want of it makes the opinions of most people of little value.
—Charles Simmons (1924–2017) American Editor, Novelist
Knowledge is only potential power.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
Herein lies the tragedy of the age: not that men are poor-all men know something of poverty; not that men are wicked-who is good? Not that men are ignorant-what is truth? Nay, but that men know so little of men.
—W. E. B. Du Bois (1868–1963) American Sociologist, Social Reformer
Those that know, do. Those that understand, teach.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Nurture your mind with great thoughts; to believe in the heroic makes heroes.
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) British Head of State
Don’t wait around for other people to be happy for you. Any happiness you get you’ve got to make yourself.
—Alice Walker (b.1944) American Novelist, Activist
Knowledge begets knowledge. The more I see, the more impressed I am—not with what we know—but with how tremendous the areas are as yet unexplored.
—John Glenn (1921–2006) American Pilot, Astronaut, Politician
He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
I have learned throughout my life as a composer chiefly through my mistakes and pursuits of false assumptions, not by my exposure to founts of wisdom and knowledge.
—Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971) Russian-born American Composer, Musician
To know yet to think that one does not know is best; Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Knowledge is proud that she knows so much; Wisdom is humble that she knows no more.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
All of life’s experiences are teachers in some sense, challenging us to grow and evolve. Although the Persecutor certainly provokes a reaction, the Challenger elicits a response by encouraging the Creator to acquire new knowledge, skill, or insight. Both roles provoke change, but in different ways.
—David Emerald
The degree of one’s emotion varies inversely with one’s knowledge of the facts—the less you know the hotter you get.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
I prefer the folly of enthusiasm to the indifference of wisdom.
—Anatole France (1844–1924) French Novelist
We are drowning in information but starved for knowledge.
—John Naisbitt American Trend Analyst
It’s a dangerous thing to think we know everything.
—Jack Kuehler (1932–2008) American Engineer, Businessperson
Courage is the human virtue that counts most—courage to act on limited knowledge and insufficient evidence. That’s all any of us have.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
Desire to know why, and how—curiosity, which is a lust of the mind, that a perseverance of delight in the continued and indefatigable generation of knowledge—exceedeth the short vehemence of any carnal pleasure.
—Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) English Political Philosopher