APAD: A little knowledge is a dangerous thing

Meaning: Incomplete knowledge of a subject can be more dangerous than no knowledge.

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Complete knowledge, however, takes time and may come too late. It may take more

than one lifetime. Ancient wisdom passed down unquestioned, e.g., the

TaoTeChing, seem to have a point.

 

Moreover, perfect knowledge should be more about enaction than comprehension.

 

Einstein said that compound interest is the 8th wonder of the world, I heard in

college and was not impressed. I knew the math, after all. Many years later and

up to my neck in the American consumer dream (read the rat-race), I chanced upon

the second half of the quote: "he who understands it, earns it; he who doesn't

pays it." Sure enough, I had been happily keeping my nose to the grindstone

paying mortgage interests.

所有跟帖： 

• 危险因为一知半解，不求甚解吗？ -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 11/03/2023 postreply 11:01:35

• Right! -7grizzly- ♀ (0 bytes) () 11/03/2023 postreply 14:07:48

• Like the example you use. -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 11/03/2023 postreply 18:11:43

• Humiliating revelations? I have tons of them :-) -7grizzly- ♀ (0 bytes) () 11/03/2023 postreply 20:08:22

• Knowing how to laugh at yourself is a kinda self-confidence -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (325 bytes) () 11/04/2023 postreply 05:31:38

• Thanks. That confidence's shallow and easily punctured :-) -7grizzly- ♀ (0 bytes) () 11/04/2023 postreply 09:51:27

• The more I know, the more I don’t know. -方外居士- ♂ (0 bytes) () 11/03/2023 postreply 11:05:25

• I won't feel depressed :-) -7grizzly- ♀ (0 bytes) () 11/03/2023 postreply 14:08:05

• A jar half full is easier to spill than a jar completely ful -godog- ♂ (0 bytes) () 11/03/2023 postreply 11:36:09

• Sure. The lighter one is easier to tilt or topple. -7grizzly- ♀ (0 bytes) () 11/03/2023 postreply 14:11:28

• Particularly true with politicians -waterfowl- ♂ (0 bytes) () 11/03/2023 postreply 14:51:07

• True and I suspect they give up.It's a thankless job anyway. -7grizzly- ♀ (0 bytes) () 11/03/2023 postreply 15:28:58

• I am the one who has no knowledge.看不懂最后一段。 -天边一片白云- ♀ (0 bytes) () 11/03/2023 postreply 18:13:44

• 7G有很多地道的英文表达，很棒！值得记录一下，学习。比如 -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 11/03/2023 postreply 19:07:53

• up to my neck in the American consumer dream -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 11/03/2023 postreply 19:08:08

• chanced upon the second half of the quote -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 11/03/2023 postreply 19:08:50

• keeping my nose to the grindstone -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 11/03/2023 postreply 19:20:15

• Thanks YY. Don't you love idiomatic English? -7grizzly- ♀ (0 bytes) () 11/03/2023 postreply 19:46:57

• Yes, I do. ：））Your English is very authentic. -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 11/04/2023 postreply 05:26:21

• Thanks! It's very kind of you. I just try to make it fun :-) -7grizzly- ♀ (0 bytes) () 11/04/2023 postreply 08:10:20

• Thanks 4 reading. Please let me know which part is not clear -7grizzly- ♀ (3606 bytes) () 11/03/2023 postreply 19:53:44

• 欣赏白云认真学习的态度，妖妖也是这样，让人印象深刻～～ -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 11/04/2023 postreply 05:19:56

• 使我想起了【侠客行】里的知识障，懂得越多受知识的阻碍越大！也有道理！ -天山晨- ♂ (0 bytes) () 11/04/2023 postreply 18:48:16