"Knowing is not understanding. There is a great difference between knowing and understanding: you can know a lot about something and not really understand it"
- Charles F. Kettering
About this Quote
This quote by Charles F. Kettering is highlighting the value of comprehending something instead of just knowing it. Understanding is simply having knowledge of something, while understanding is having the ability to comprehend and use that understanding. Knowing something does not necessarily imply that you understand it. For example, you can understand the definition of a word, but not understand the context in which it is used. Understanding something requires more than simply understanding; it requires the capability to think seriously and use the knowledge to different circumstances. Knowing is a necessary action in understanding, however it is inadequate. To really comprehend something, one need to be able to believe critically and apply the understanding to various circumstances.
"To be really great in little things, to be truly noble and heroic in the insipid details of everyday life, is a virtue so rare as to be worthy of canonization"
"Having soon discovered to be great, I must appear so, and therefore studiously avoided mixing in society, and wrapped myself in mystery, devoting my time to fasting and prayer"