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Analects 2:17

Confucius said: … Recognizing that you know what you know, and recognizing that you do not know what you do not know—this is knowledge.


Yu, shall I teach you what knowledge is? When you know a thing, to hold that you know it; and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it;—this is knowledge. L *


Yu, shall I tell you what true knowledge is? When you know, to know that you know, and when you do not know, to know that you do not know—that is true knowledge. G


When you know a thing to recognize that you know it; and when you do not, to know that you do not know,—that is knowledge. S


Shall I teach you what is understanding? To know what it is that you know, and to know what it is that you do not know,—that is understanding. K


Yu! shall I teach you in what true knowledge consists? To know what you do know, and to know what you do not know—this is true knowledge. (Hebrert A. Giles)


Yew, permit me to tell you what is knowledge. What you are acquainted with, consider that you know it, what you do not understand, consider that you do not know it; this is knowledge. C


Shall I give you a lesson about knowledge? When you know a thing, maintain that you know it; and when you do not, acknowledge your ignorance. This is (characteristic of) knowledge. J


Having knowledge, to apply it; not having knowledge, to confess your ignorance; this is real knowledge. (Marshman)


When you know a thing, to recognize that you know it, and when you do not know a thing, to recognize that you do not know it. That is knowledge. (Arthur Waley)


Commentary

Thinking that you know more than you know—this is delusion. Not recognizing that you know what you know—this is also delusion.


Hidden knowledge is not much different than ignorance, and ignorance of ignorance is greater ignorance.