If one is master of one thing and understands one thing well, one has at the same time, insight into and understanding of many things.
—Vincent van Gogh (1853–90) Dutch Painter
A man of understanding finds less difficulty in submitting to a wrong-headed fellow, than in attempting to set him right.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Men are admitted into Heaven not because they have curbed and governed their passions or have no passions, but because they have cultivated their understandings. The treasures of Heaven are not negations of passion, but realities of intellect, from which all the passions emanate uncurbed in their eternal glory. The fool shall not enter into Heaven let him be ever so holy.
—William Blake (1757–1827) English Poet, Painter, Printmaker
If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday.
—Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973) American Novelist, Human Rights Activist
It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it!
—Upton Sinclair (1878–1968) American Novelist
It is not the language but the speaker that we want to understand.
—The Upanishads Sacred Books of Hinduism
What better way is there no make men love one another than to make men understand one another. True charity comes only with clarity-just as mercy is but justice that understands. Surely the root of all evil is the inability to see clearly that which is.
—William C. Durant (1861–1947) American Industrialist
Understanding is nothing else than conception caused by speech.
—Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) English Political Philosopher
All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.
—Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) Italian Astronomer, Physicist, Mathematician
The reality of the other person is not in what he reveals to you, but in what he cannot reveal to you. Therefore, if you would understand him, listen not to what he says but rather what he does not say.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are.
—Zen Proverb Japanese School of Mahayana Buddhism
Perhaps I am doomed to retrace my steps under the illusion that I am exploring, doomed to try and learn what I should simply recognize, learning a mere fraction of what I have forgotten.
—Andre Breton (1896–1966) French Poet, Essayist, Critic
Said the little boy, Sometimes I drop my spoon.
Said the little old man, I do that too.
The little boy whispered, I wet my pants.
I do too, laughed the old man.
Said the little boy, I often cry.
The old man nodded. So do I.
But worst of all, said the boy, it seems
Grown-ups don’t pay attention to me.
And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.
I know what you mean, said the little old man.
—Shel Silverstein (1930–99) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Short story Author, Playwright, Author, Songwriter
I don’t understand you. You don’t understand me. What else do we have in common?
—Ashleigh Brilliant (b.1933) British Cartoonist, Author
We practically always excuse things when we understand them
—Mikhail Lermontov (1814–41) Russian Novelist, Poet
The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Return to the root and you will find the meaning.
—Jianzhi Sengcan (d.606 CE) Chinese-Buddhist Monk
Never do today what you can put off till tomorrow. — Delay may give clearer light as to what is best to be done.
—Aaron Burr
I respect the man who knows distinctly what he wishes. The greater part of all mischief in the world arises from the fact that men do not sufficiently understand their own aims. They have undertaken to build a tower, and spend no more labor on the foundation than would be necessary to erect a hut.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Much learning does not teach understanding.
—Heraclitus (535BCE–475BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
When I wanted to understand what is happening today, I try to decide what will happen tomorrow; I look back, a page of history is worth a volume of logic.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841–1935) American Jurist, Author
The simplest explanation is that it doesn’t make sense.
—William Buechner (1914–85) American Nuclear Physicist
Life is the first gift, love is the second, and understanding the third.
—Marge Piercy (b.1936) American Poet, Novelist, Social Activist
What we do not understand, we cannot control.
—Charles A. Reich (1928–2019) American Jurist, Author
The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend.
—Robertson Davies (1913–95) Canadian Novelist, Playwright, Essayist
Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man’s desire to understand.
—Neil Armstrong (1930–2012) American Astronaut
Man know much more than he understands.
—Alfred Adler (1870–1937) Austrian Psychiatrist
It is understanding that gives us an ability to have peace. When we understand the other fellow’s viewpoint, and he understands ours, then we can sit down and work out our differences.
—Harry S. Truman (1884–1972) American Head of State
Do not expect to arrive at certainty in every subject which you pursue. There are a hundred things wherein we mortals… must be content with probability, where our best light and reasoning will reach no farther.
—Isaac Watts (1674–1748) English Hymn writer
In the long course of history, having people who understand your thought is much greater security than another submarine.
—J. William Fulbright (1905–95) American Political leader, Politician
A little inaccuracy sometimes saves tons of explanation.
—Saki (Hector Hugh Munro) (1870–1916) British Short Story Writer, Satirist, Historian
Every man hears only what he understands.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
The less you know about a field, the better your odds. Dumb boldness is the best way to approach a new challenge.
—Jerry Seinfeld (b.1954) American Comedian
If one does not understand a person, one tends to regard him as a fool.
—Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961) Swiss Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Philosopher
Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.
—Marie Curie (1867–1934) Polish-born French Physicist, Chemist
In youth we learn; in age we understand.
—Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830–1916) Austrian Novelist
Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery.
—J. K. Rowling (b.1965) English Novelist
If the secret of being a bore is to tell all, the secret of pleasing is to say just enough to be –not understood, but divined.
—Remy de Gourmont (1858–1915) French Poet, Novelist, Critic
The best cure for worry, depression, melancholy, brooding, is to go deliberately forth and try to lift with one’s sympathy the gloom of somebody else.
—Arnold Bennett (1867–1931) British Novelist, Playwright, Critic
Do not hover always on the surface of things, nor take up suddenly with mere appearances; but penetrate into the depth of matters, as far as your time and circumstances allow, especially in those things which relate to your profession.
—Isaac Watts (1674–1748) English Hymn writer
There are three things I have loved but never understood. Art, music and women.
—Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle (1657–1757) French Essayist, Polymath, Philosopher
Once we realize that imperfect understanding is the human condition, there is no shame in being wrong, only in failing to correct our mistakes.
—George Soros (b.1930) Hungarian-American Investor, Philanthropist
Don’t write merely to be understood. Write so that you cannot possibly be misunderstood.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don’t blame the lettuce. You look into the reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce. Yet if we have problems with our friends or our family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like lettuce. Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and arguments. That is my experience. No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding. If you understand, and you show that you understand, you can love, and the situation will change.
—Thich Nhat Hanh (b.1926) Vietnamese Buddhist Religious Leader, Teacher, Author, Peace Activist
Any fool can criticize, complain, and condemn–and most fools do. But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author