"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." This quote comes from The Analects, Book of Government, and is a teaching by Confucius to his disciple Zilu. The meaning of this sentence is: to know what you know, and to admit what you do not know—this is true wisdom. It emphasizes an honest and humble attitude toward seeking knowledge and opposes pretending to understand what one does not and deceiving oneself and others. In its deeper meaning, it is not only about honesty regarding knowledge but also a kind of life wisdom—only by acknowledging one's ignorance can one continue to learn and improve; concealing one's ignorance only leads to stagnation. It is often used in education, academic discussions, or self-reflection to advocate a scholarly attitude of seeking truth from facts. In terms of cultural background, it reflects the unity of "sincerity" and "wisdom" in Confucianism and is the core of the traditional Chinese spirit of learning. In emotional tone, it carries a sense of admonition and warning, with a solemn yet earnest manner.
📝 Example
1. In academic research, we must uphold the attitude of "to know what you know" and never fabricate data for the sake of saving face. (Refers to treating knowledge honestly—asking when you don't understand, and never pretending to know.)
2. Our teacher often tells us, "To know what you know and to not know what you don't know"—only in this way can we truly learn. (Refers to acknowledging one's ignorance and learning with an open mind.)