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Our knowledge is a little island in a great ocean of nonknowledge.
Isaac Bashevis Singer
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Our understanding is limited compared to what we don't know.

The quote by Isaac Bashevis Singer emphasizes the vastness of the unknown in relation to what we actually know. It suggests that while we may feel knowledgeable, it is just a small portion when compared to the countless mysteries and information that exist beyond our grasp, highlighting the importance of humility and continuous learning.

Themes

KnowledgeWisdomHumilityLearningIgnorance

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can inspire students to appreciate the limits of their knowledge during a classroom discussion.

More from Isaac Bashevis Singer

When a human being kills an animal for food, he is neglecting his own hunger for justice.
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There will be no justice as long as man will stand with a knife or with a gun and destroy those who are weaker than he is.
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As long as people will shed the blood of innocent creatures there can be no peace, no liberty, no harmony between people. Slaughter and justice cannot dwell together.
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Sometimes love is stronger than a man's convictions.
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I did not become a vegetarian for my health, I did it for the health of the chickens.
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Every creator painfully experiences the chasm between his inner vision and its ultimate expression. The chasm is never completely bridged. We all have the conviction, perhaps illusory, that we have much more to say than appears on the paper.
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A little wisdom, now and then

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