"Knowledge may give weight, but accomplishments give lustre, and many more people see than weigh"
- Herodotus
About this Quote
This quote by Herodotus talks to the value of action over understanding. Knowledge is important, and it can give us weight in terms of reliability and respect. Nevertheless, it is our achievements that provide us lustre, or shine. This is due to the fact that accomplishments show up to many more people than those who weigh our understanding. Simply put, our accomplishments are most likely to be seen and appreciated by others than our knowledge.
This quote motivates us to take action and strive for achievements. It is not enough to merely have understanding; we need to use it to develop something concrete. Our accomplishments are what will be remembered and valued by others. For that reason, it is necessary to focus on doing something about it and creating concrete outcomes. This is the only way to really make an effect and be remembered.