We know very little, and yet it is astonishing that we know so much, and still more astonishing that so little knowledge can give us so much power.
Interpretation
Despite our limited knowledge, it's surprising how much influence it can yield.
This quote by Bertrand Russell highlights the paradox of human understanding. While our grasp of the universe and its complexities is minimal, the amount of knowledge we do possess allows us to wield significant power and influence over our surroundings. It suggests that even a small amount of understanding can lead to substantial impact, reflecting both the potential and limitations of human intellect.
In practice
In a lecture about the importance of education, this quote can illustrate the value of even basic knowledge.
St. Paul introduced an entirely novel view of marriage, that it existed primarily to prevent the sin of fornication. It is just as if one were to maintain that the sole reason for baking bread is to prevent people from stealing cake.
Freedom comes only to those who no longer ask of life that it shall yield them any of those personal goods that are subject to the mutations of time.
Of these austerer virtues the love of truth is the chief, and in mathematics, more than elsewhere, the love of truth may find encouragement for waning faith. Every great study is not only an end in itself, but also a means of creating and sustaining a lofty habit of mind; and this purpose should be kept always in view throughout the teaching and learning of mathematics.
At all times, except when a monarch could enforce his will, war has been facilitated by the fact that vigorous males, confident of victory, enjoyed it, while their females admired them for their prowess.
Moreover, the attitude that one ought to believe such and such a proposition, independently of the question whether there is evidence in its favor, is an attitude which produces hostility to evidence and causes us to close our minds to every fact that does not suit our prejudices.
Extreme hopes are born from extreme misery.
You can test what we have talked about today. Just try two things. Listen for the whisperings of the Spirit and then commit to obey. . . . God will take advantage of that if you let Him
Those who do not know the torment of the unknown cannot have the joy of discovery.
The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them.
Far best is he who is himself all-wise, and he, too, good who listens to wise words; But whoso is not wise or lays to hear another's wisdom is a useless man.
Wisdom comes with the ability to be still. Just look and listen. No more is needed.
"He preaches well that lives well," quoth Sancho, "that's all the divinity I can understand."
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