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Thomas Nichols

Ask the electronic oracle

People do not come to the Internet so that their bad information can be corrected or their cherished theories disproven. Rather, they ask the electronic oracle to confirm them in their ignorance.

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Moonstruck

You have such a head for knowing!

Mona: You have such a head for knowing!

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Modern Family

It’s just one of those things we’ll never know, like what happened to the Titanic.

Phil: It’s just one of those things we’ll never know, like what happened to the Titanic.
Claire: It hit an iceberg.
Phil: Maybe.

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Margaret Thatcher

It is always important in matters of high politics to know what you do not know.

It is always important in matters of high politics to know what you do not know. Those who think they know, but are mistaken, and act upon their mistakes, are the most dangerous people to have in charge.

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Frank Borman

Exploration is really the essence of the human spirit.

Exploration really is the essence of the human spirit, and to pause, to falter, to turn our back on the quest for knowledge, is to perish.

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Nicolaus Copernicus

to whom ignorance cannot be more grateful than knowledge.

To know the mighty works of God, to comprehend His wisdom and majesty and power; to appreciate, in degree, the wonderful workings of His laws, surely all this must be a pleasing and acceptable mode of worship to the Most High, to whom ignorance cannot be more grateful than knowledge.

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Virginia Woolf

What are you going to meet if you turn this corner?

The strange thing about life is that though the nature of it must have been apparent to every one for hundreds of years, no one has left any adequate account of it. The streets of London have their map; but our passions are uncharted. What are you going to meet if you turn this corner?

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William Hazlitt

You know more of a road by having travelled it then by all the conjectures and descriptions in the world.

You know more of a road by having travelled it then by all the conjectures and descriptions in the world.

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Archibald MacLeish

What is more important in a library than anything else — is the fact that it exists.

What is more important in a library than anything else — is the fact that it exists.

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Bryant McGill

Knowledge is that possession that no misfortune can destroy

Knowledge is that possession that no misfortune can destroy, no authority can revoke, and no enemy can control. This makes knowledge the greatest of all freedoms.

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Admiral Collingwood

Nature has sown in man the seeds of knowledge; but they must be cultivated, to produce fruit.

Nature has sown in man the seeds of knowledge; but they must be cultivated, to produce fruit.

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J.K. Rowling

You will never truly know yourself, or the strength of your relationships, until both have been tested by adversity.

You will never truly know yourself, or the strength of your relationships, until both have been tested by adversity. Such knowledge is a true gift, for all that it is painfully won, and it has been worth more than any qualification I ever earned.

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Smell is the most powerful trigger to the memory there is.

Giles: Smell is the most powerful trigger to the memory there is. A certain flower or a whiff of smoke can bring up experiences long forgotten. Books smell musty and rich. The knowledge gained from a computer is…it has no texture, no context. It’s there and then it’s gone. If it’s to last, then the getting of knowledge should be tangible. It should be, um, smelly.

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The Horse Whisperer

Knowing is the easy part; saying it out loud is the hard part.

Tom Booker: Knowing is the easy part; saying it out loud is the hard part.

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Oscar Wilde

it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught

Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.

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Wilson Mizner

A good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while he gets to know something.

A good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while he gets to know something.

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Tao Te Ching

To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.

To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.

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Terry Pratchett

It’s not enough to be able to pick up a sword. You have to know which end to poke into the enemy.

It’s not enough to be able to pick up a sword. You have to know which end to poke into the enemy.

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Woody Allen

Can we actually “know” the universe? My God, it’s hard enough finding your way around in Chinatown.

Can we actually “know” the universe? My God, it’s hard enough finding your way around in Chinatown.

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Socrates

True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing.

True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing.

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Dr. Seuss

The more that you learn, The more places you’ll go.

The more that you read,
The more things you will know.
The more that you learn,
The more places you’ll go.

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Dr. Seuss

It’s high time you were shown that you really don’t know all there is to be known.

It’s high time you were shown
That you really don’t know
All there is to be known.

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Douglas Adams

I’d take the awe of understanding over the awe of ignorance any day.

I’d take the awe of understanding over the awe of ignorance any day.