"Knowledge is not eating, and we cannot expect to devour and possess what we mean. Knowledge is recognition of something absent; it is a salutation, not an embrace"

This quote by George Santayana speaks with the idea that understanding is not merely acquired through intake, however rather through the recognition of something that is missing or absent. He suggests that knowledge is a type of acknowledgment or greeting, instead of an act of belongings or usage. Santayana argues that in order to genuinely understand something, one should approach it with a sense of regard and humbleness, rather than attempting to control or control it. Ultimately, he stresses the importance of recognizing the limitations of our own understanding and the worth of approaching new ideas with an open mind and a sense of interest.