more on this theme     |     more from this thinker


Single Idea 6328

[filed under theme 11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 1. Knowledge ]

Full Idea

To know yet to think that one does not know is best.

Gist of Idea

To know yet to think that one does not know is best

Source

Laozi (Lao Tzu) (Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) [c.530 BCE], II.LXXI.173)

Book Ref

Lao Tzu: 'Tao Te Ching', ed/tr. Lau,D.C. [Penguin 1963], p.133


A Reaction

Tricky. Self-deception doesn't sound like a virtue to me. There are epistemic virtues, and caution about one's own knowledge has to be one of them, but a totally false assessment sounds counter-productive.


The 15 ideas from 'Daodejing (Tao Te Ching)'

A military victory is not a thing of beauty [Laozi (Lao Tzu)]
The highest virtue is achieved without effort [Laozi (Lao Tzu)]
Wise people choose inaction and silence [Laozi (Lao Tzu)]
The best rulers are invisible, the next admired, the next feared, and the worst are exploited [Laozi (Lao Tzu)]
Vulgar people are alert; I alone am muddled [Laozi (Lao Tzu)]
One who knows does not speak; one who speaks does not know [Laozi (Lao Tzu)]
The better known the law, the more criminals there are [Laozi (Lao Tzu)]
Do good to him who has done you an injury [Laozi (Lao Tzu)]
To know yet to think that one does not know is best [Laozi (Lao Tzu)]
People are hard to govern because authorities love to do things [Laozi (Lao Tzu)]
One with no use for life is wiser than one who values it [Laozi (Lao Tzu)]
Truth is not beautiful; beautiful speech is not truthful [Laozi (Lao Tzu)]
To gain in goodness, treat as good those who are good, and those who are not [Laozi (Lao Tzu)]
There is no crime greater than having too many desires [Laozi (Lao Tzu)]
Pursuit of learning increases activity; the Way decreases it [Laozi (Lao Tzu)]