"The small part of ignorance that we arrange and classify we give the name of knowledge"
- Ambrose Bierce
About this Quote
This quote by Ambrose Bierce speaks to the idea that knowledge is limited and subjective. He suggests that what we consider to be knowledge is only a small part of the larger picture of ignorance. We arrange and classify this small part of ignorance, giving it the name of knowledge. This implies that knowledge is not absolute, but rather a construct of our own making. It is a way of organizing and understanding the world around us, but it is not the only way. Bierce is suggesting that knowledge is limited and that there is much more to learn and understand beyond what we have already classified. He is encouraging us to look beyond what we already know and to explore the unknown. He is suggesting that knowledge is not the end-all-be-all, but rather a stepping stone to greater understanding.
"Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind"