"Life has taught me to think, but thinking has not taught me to live"
- Alexander Herzen
About this Quote
This quote by Alexander Herzen talks to the concept that life is a discovering experience, and that we can acquire knowledge and knowledge from it. He suggests that while we can learn to think through life, believing alone can not teach us how to live. This indicates that life experience is vital for understanding how to live. Herzen is suggesting that knowledge and wisdom originate from living life, not just from considering it. He is stressing the importance of experience and the need to do something about it in order to get understanding. He is likewise suggesting that life is more than just intellectual pursuits, and that it is important to engage with the world in order to acquire a much deeper understanding of life. Herzen's quote is a pointer that life is a journey, and that we must make the effort to experience it in order to acquire the knowledge and wisdom we need to live a significant life.
"Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage"