"There are some people that if they don't know, you can't tell them"

Louis Armstrong’s words suggest that certain kinds of knowledge or wisdom cannot simply be transferred by explanation or instruction. There are truths, feelings, or experiences so rooted in direct lived experience that, without having witnessed or felt them firsthand, a person remains untouched by attempts at explanation. Sometimes, people are protected by their own assumptions, beliefs, or limitations, and any effort to bring them new understanding simply returns, like sunlight bouncing off a mirror. They may lack the frame of reference necessary to grasp what is being shared, or perhaps do not have the openness to accept new perspectives. Whether it’s a profound insight about life, the subtleties of music, or the depths of human emotion, such things often defy explicit instruction and demand personal discovery.

Armstrong might also be alluding to the inadequacy of words when conveying certain concepts. No matter how articulate or passionate the teacher, the listener must be receptive, curious, and ready. Human nature sometimes resists change, clings to prejudice, or is simply not yet ready for a particular understanding. The transfer of insight is rarely one-sided; a person must not only be told but must also listen, question, and reflect. Without this active participation, wisdom remains a closed book, its pages invisible.

The statement also speaks to the humility required in communication. There’s a limit to persuasion and teaching. Sometimes, the best course is to recognize when someone is not ready, willing, or able to receive new ideas or truths and not force the matter. Gentleness and patience become necessary virtues. Only through lived experience, passage of time, or transformative events may someone come to know what otherwise eludes them. Armstrong’s observation reveals a keen understanding of both the promise and the limitations inherent in human connection and growth.