knowledge is power essay in english

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Essay on Knowledge is Power: Samples in 100, 200, 300 Words

Updated on
Dec 15, 2023

‘ Knowledge is power’ phrase is derived from a Latin term, which is attributed to Sir Francis Bacon, a well-known essayist of all times. Knowledge is power has been accepted widely and timelessly as it underscores the significance of knowledge in empowering people, societies and countries .

Benjamin Franklin once said, ‘An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.’ Knowledge not only improves a person’s understanding of the world but also teaches them life lessons to develop decision-making skills and contribute to the betterment of society. Below we have discussed some essays on knowledge is power in different word limits.

Table of Contents

1 Essay on Knowledge is Power in 100 Words
2 Essay on Knowledge is Power in 200 Words
3 Essay on Knowledge is Power in 300 Words

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Essay on Knowledge is Power in 100 Words

‘Knowledge is power’ is a timeless truth. A person with knowledge can empower himself to make informed decisions, enhance personal growth and contribute to the development of society. Knowledge equips us with effective tools to navigate the challenges of life and achieve our goals in real-time. The pursuit of knowledge is education. A person who is educated and has the right knowledge will find success in life.

The world we live in is driven by knowledge-based education and innovations. From agriculture to healthcare, every activity and field requires you to have proper knowledge and understanding of it. Whether it is at the individual level or global level, people who prioritize education and knowledge enjoy economic prosperity and influence.

Essay on Knowledge is Power in 200 Words

Knowledge is so powerful that it can reshape the entire world or destroy it, depending on the purpose for which it is used. The phrase, ‘Knowledge is Power’ was given by Sir Francis Bacon. With knowledge, one can have a profound impact on their life and the people surrounding it.

Knowledge emperors a person in various ways, from personal growth to changes at the global level. With knowledge, we gain new skills, insights and perspectives about a particular subject. This equips us to excel in our chosen field, pursue all our aspirations and fulfil our dream life.

A person with the right knowledge can make informed decisions. If you are someone who possesses broad knowledge about different subjects, it will be very easy for you to critically analyze any situation, weigh options and make choices that best suit your plans. This not only leads to better personal outcomes but also fosters a sense of autonomy and self-determination. Knowledge is considered as the driving force behind progress. Scientific discoveries, technological innovations, cultural evolution and social developments are all fueled by accumulated knowledge. A very classic example of this is the history of human civilization. We must use knowledge knowledge ethically and ensure its equitable distribution or access.

Also Read – Essay on Unity in Diversity

Essay on Knowledge is Power in 300 Words

Knowledge is deemed as the most powerful tool a human possesses. It is the cornerstone of power in our modern society. The universally acknowledged phrase ‘Knowledge is power’ highlights the profound impact knowledge has on individuals and society, and both.

The first thing to know about knowledge is that it is the key to personal development and empowerment. When a person acquires knowledge, they open doors to personal growth and development. Depending on the person’s expertise and field, this empowerment can come in various forms. I person with the right knowledge often finds himself confident, adaptable, and capable of overcoming obstacles in life.

Moreover, knowledge equips you to make informed decisions. We are living in a world which is driven by information. A person who is well-equipped with knowledge about his or her specific field can critically assess a situation, evaluate the options and make choices that best suit their individual needs and values. This not only enhances their personal lives but also fosters a sense of agency and self-determination.

Knowledge is the driving force behind progress, development and innovation. From the time of industrialization to the invention of the internet, knowledge has been the deciding factor for transformative change, improving the quality of life for countless individuals.

The importance of knowledge is not only limited to individual benefits of scientific discoveries. It also plays a critical role in a country’s governance. It allows you to make informed political decisions, and actively participate in the democratic process. In this way, knowledge serves as a safeguard against tyranny and injustice.

At last, the phrase ‘knowledge is power’ remains a timeless truth that highlights the profound impact of knowledge on a person’s development and societal changes. With this power comes the responsibility to use knowledge ethically and ensure equal access for all, as knowledge remains a vital path to personal and collective empowerment in our ever-changing world.

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The phrase ‘knowledge itself is power’ denotes the meaning that knowing empowers your understanding of the world so that you can make informed decisions for yourself and others. In this way, knowledge is equal to power, as it can help in shaping the future of an individual to an entire country.

Knowledge is considered as an accumulation of information, skills facts and understanding acquired through deep learning, experience and observation. It represents a deep and organised awareness of the world around us, encompassing various fields of knowledge, such as culture, science and technology, history and practical know-how. Knowledge empowers individuals by providing the tools to make informed decisions, solve problems, and navigate life’s complexities. It serves as a foundation for personal growth, innovation, and societal progress, shaping our perceptions and actions.

A person can improve their knowledge by reading informative articles, newspapers and books, enrolling in courses related to their field of study, attending workshops and seminars, engaging in discussions, etc.

For more information on such interesting topics, visit our essay writing page and follow Leverage Edu .

Shiva Tyagi

With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

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Essay on Knowledge is Power

500 Words Essay On Knowledge is Power

Knowledge is the most substantial element in the world. It can make or break your life alone. Moreover, knowledge is what differentiates humans from animals . With knowledge, one can utilize their skills and make their lives better. When you have knowledge at your disposal, you can accomplish a lot in your life. The essay on knowledge is power will help you learn more about it.

Knowledge is Treasure

There are some people only who understand how important knowledge is. While every educated person may not be intelligent, it is true that every qualified person has an education .

It may seem like a strange statement but it is true. When you have the treasure of knowledge, you can drive a car or even fly an aeroplane. Similarly, you can crack puzzles and solve riddles with knowledge.

Therefore, it allows you to do the little as well as big things. When you have the knowledge, you can stop yourself from falling into the same trap. Also, you cannot buy knowledge. It is very essential to note this in this essay on knowledge is power.

It is a treasure that cannot be bought. You gain it and you earn it with your hard work. Therefore, the real gem is that of knowledge that will make you a successful person in life and help you gain power and respect.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Knowledge is a Bottomless Ocean

Knowledge is like a bottomless ocean . The more you dive deep into it, the deeper it will appear to you. Thus, there are no limits in the world of knowledge. When you desire knowledge, you thirst for riches unknown.

Once you taste the nectar of knowledge, you cannot restrain your desire for it. You only get the desire to gain more wisdom and acquire more knowledge. There is a proverb that tells us that people will worship the king in his kingdom alone but they will worship a man of knowledge all over the world.

In other words, a person with knowledge can find a home in any part of the world. The ocean of knowledge gives us broad thinking and makes us fearless. Moreover, our vision becomes clear through it.

Also, when you get the knowledge of various things like science, medicine, politics, and more, you can work for the betterment of the world. Knowledge gives birth to inventions and discoveries.

Conclusion of Essay on Knowledge is Power

All in all, knowledge allows people to flourish in life. Similarly, it also helps to hold off wars and abuse. It is responsible for bringing peace to the world and helping nations prosper. It can open doors to success and unite people like never before.

FAQ on Essay on Knowledge is Power

Question 1: What does Knowledge is Power mean?

Answer 1: When we say knowledge is power, we mean that a person with education has the power to control his life by making use of his knowledge. Moreover, it helps us overcome hurdles easily.

Question 2: Why is knowledge so important?

Answer 2: Knowledge improves our thinking and helps us solve problems. It is important because it enhances our reasoning and critical thinking to make better decisions in life and choose the correct path.

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Knowledge is Power Essay

When we say knowledge is power , we mean that knowledge is that weapon through which we can win any war in the world. Through that weapon, we feel stronger than the competitors and more skillful. Here are a few sample essays on Knowledge is Power.

100 Words Essay On Knowledge Is Power

Francis Bacon is frequently credited with coining the expression "knowledge is power" in his Meditationes Sacrae (1597). The ability to sway people's actions and behaviour is what makes knowledge so powerful. This implies that knowledge influences society in a way that is beneficial to everyone. Knowledge is an awareness and understanding of the world around us. It describes the knowledge, details, abilities, and wisdom gained through education and life experiences. The concept of knowledge is extremely broad and unbounded. Cognitive functions, communication, vision, and reasoning are all involved in learning. Knowledge and intelligence are what distinguishes us humans from animals.

200 Words Essay On Knowledge Is Power

The phrase "knowledge is power" holds a lot of truth. It means that the more knowledge an individual has, the more power they possess. Knowledge empowers individuals to make informed decisions, solve problems and understand the world around them. It gives people the tools they need to succeed in life, whether it's in their personal or professional lives. Knowledge can help to build self-confidence, and it can also open up new opportunities and possibilities. In addition, having knowledge in a particular field can also provide a sense of expertise and authority.

Moreover, knowledge is not only limited to academic or theoretical understanding but also includes the practical application of information in real-life situations. It's the combination of theoretical and practical knowledge that makes an individual truly powerful. The ability to apply knowledge to real-world problems and situations is crucial to success in many fields, such as business, science, and technology.

In conclusion, knowledge is indeed power, as it empowers individuals to make informed decisions, solve problems, and understand the world around them. It is an essential component of personal and societal progress and a key to success in many fields. It is a lifelong pursuit that should be embraced by all, as it allows us to have a better understanding of ourselves and the world around us and to make a positive impact on the world.

500 Words Essay On Knowledge Is Power

The phrase "knowledge is power" is a well-known adage that holds great truth. It implies that the more knowledge an individual has, the more power and control they possess over their lives and the world around them.

First and foremost, knowledge empowers individuals to make informed decisions. When we have knowledge about a particular subject or issue, we are better equipped to understand the pros and cons of different options and make choices that are in our best interest. For example, a student who has knowledge about different colleges and universities can make a more informed decision about where to attend school.

Knowledge is not only limited to academic or theoretical understanding but also includes the practical application of information in real-life situations. It is the combination of theoretical and practical knowledge that makes an individual truly powerful.

Knowledge is indeed power. It empowers individuals to make informed decisions, solve problems, and advance in their personal and professional lives. It allows us to understand and analyse the world around us, and to develop effective solutions to the problems we face. It is important to continuously strive to acquire knowledge in all areas of life, as it enables us to have a better understanding of ourselves and the world around us, and to make a positive impact on the world.

I remember the day when I first truly understood the power of knowledge. I was a young student, struggling to keep up with my classmates. I had always been a mediocre student, and I never really saw the value in studying and learning. But one day, everything changed.

I had a big test coming up, and I knew that I needed to do well on it if I wanted to pass the class. So, I decided to put in the extra effort and study hard. I spent hours reading my textbooks and taking notes, and I was amazed at how much information I was able to absorb.

The day of the test came, and I felt more prepared than ever before. As I sat down to take the test, I realised that the knowledge I had acquired had given me a newfound confidence. I felt empowered and in control of my own success.

To my surprise, I did well on the test and received an A. From that day on, I realised that knowledge truly is power. It gave me the tools I needed to succeed, not only in my studies but in my personal and professional life as well.

I continued to put in the effort to acquire knowledge in all areas of my life, and I saw the benefits of it. It opened up new opportunities and possibilities for me, and I was able to achieve things I never thought were possible.

From then on, I made it a habit to continuously strive to acquire knowledge and to update it, which helped me to grow personally and professionally. I realised that knowledge is not only about getting good grades, but also about having the ability to make informed decisions, solve problems and understand the world around us.

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Essay on Knowledge is Power

Students are often asked to write an essay on Knowledge is Power in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Knowledge is Power

Understanding the power of knowledge.

Knowledge is a powerful tool that can change our lives. It’s more than just facts; it’s a unique understanding of the world around us. With knowledge, we can make informed decisions, solve problems, and contribute to society.

The Role of Education

Education is the key to gaining knowledge. It opens doors to new ideas, perspectives, and opportunities. It’s through education that we learn about different subjects and develop skills.

Knowledge and Empowerment

Knowledge empowers us. It gives us the confidence to face challenges, the ability to make a difference, and the power to shape our future.

Also check:

Paragraph on Knowledge is Power
Speech on Knowledge is Power

250 Words Essay on Knowledge is Power

Introduction.

The proverb “Knowledge is Power” is a timeless axiom that emphasizes the importance of knowledge in life. This potent phrase was first coined by Sir Francis Bacon, an influential philosopher and statesman, who understood the fundamental role of knowledge in shaping human destiny.

The Power of Knowledge

Knowledge bestows power by enabling individuals to make informed decisions, solve problems, and innovate. It’s a catalyst for social mobility, bridging gaps between different societal classes. The more knowledge a person possesses, the more they understand the world around them and their place within it.

Knowledge as a Tool of Empowerment

Knowledge is not just about acquiring information; it’s about understanding and applying that information effectively. It is a tool of empowerment, allowing us to challenge unjust systems, question prevailing norms, and shape a more equitable society. In essence, knowledge is the fuel that drives social change and progress.

Knowledge in the Digital Age

In the digital age, the value of knowledge has increased exponentially. With the internet acting as a global repository of information, the power of knowledge has become more accessible. However, it is the ability to critically analyze and apply this information that truly empowers individuals and societies.

In conclusion, knowledge is indeed power. It is an indispensable tool that influences our decisions, shapes our perspectives, and governs our actions. As we navigate through the complexities of the 21st century, let us remember that the power of knowledge is not in its possession but in its application.

500 Words Essay on Knowledge is Power

The phrase “Knowledge is Power” is a well-known adage that signifies the importance of knowledge in life. It is attributed to Sir Francis Bacon, an English philosopher and statesman, who penned it in his 1597 work, “Meditationes Sacrae.” The concept behind this statement is that knowledge equips us with the power to influence, to change, and to better ourselves and the world around us.

Knowledge is a potent tool that enables us to comprehend the complexities of the world. It is a catalyst that propels us forward, fostering our growth and development. It is not merely an accumulation of facts, but a tool that allows us to understand, analyze, and interpret information. It is through knowledge that we can discern truth from falsehood, make informed decisions, and shape our destiny.

Knowledge and Society

In the context of society, knowledge is a driving force that fuels progress. It is the bedrock of innovation, scientific discoveries, and technological advancements. It empowers societies to transcend boundaries, overcome challenges, and create solutions that enhance the quality of life. It is through knowledge that we have been able to harness the power of nature, cure diseases, and reach out to the stars.

Knowledge is a form of empowerment. It equips individuals with the ability to think critically, question, and challenge the status quo. It empowers individuals to break free from the shackles of ignorance, prejudice, and superstition. It fosters self-reliance and self-confidence, empowering individuals to shape their lives and contribute to society.

Knowledge and Ethics

While knowledge is a powerful tool, it is crucial to understand that power without ethics can lead to destructive consequences. Knowledge should be guided by a strong moral compass, ensuring that it is used for the betterment of humanity and not for its detriment. The ethical use of knowledge is what separates wisdom from mere intelligence.

In conclusion, knowledge is indeed power. It is a tool that enables us to understand the world, make informed decisions, and shape our destiny. It is a force that drives progress, innovation, and societal development. However, it is essential to remember that the power of knowledge must be guided by ethics, ensuring that it is used for the betterment of humanity. As we continue to accumulate knowledge, let us strive to use it wisely, ethically, and responsibly. The true power of knowledge lies not just in its acquisition, but in its application for the greater good.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Essay on Knowledge
Essay on Know Your Freedom Fighters
Essay on Kindness

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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Knowledge is Power Essay

Doing the right things, at the right time in the right way, produces the right results we aspire. In other words; knowing what to do, at what time, in what direction and how are the various parameters that lead to show a success.

Knowing the timings well, knowing our goals well, knowing our strengths and weaknesses well and shipping them in the right direction, we can achieve what we aspire to achieve.

Knowledge gives one power to mobilize the things in the right direction and so it is said that Knowledge is Power.

If one Ventures to establish any business, wishes to achieve any goal he must acquire full knowledge of all the things concerned including his own limitations and weaknesses.

Knowledge gives one capacity and capabilities to know the result of his actions probability ratio of success and failures propriety of his venture and so knowledge is said to be the power.

For a country, knowledge about its friends and foes, knowledge about the capabilities of its enemies, is very important. In the present world scenario, many satellites and spyware crafts are deployed for the purpose of gaining maximum knowledge of activities going on in other countries.

A country having the maximum and accurate knowledge of other countries can use them to its advantage; it is the knowledge that rules the world.

Knowledge can be acquired enhanced through reading. Reading is the key to knowledge. Napoleon once remarked, “show me a family of readers and I will show you the people who moved the world” .

All learned man, all successful and powerful men have been great readers. Again through our readings, we can get to know about the lives of great and successful men, the problems they faced and the means they employed to overcome them. Often their biographies give us a clue to solving all problems.

In times of adversity, danger, misfortune, a man of knowledge proves to be a man of resources. He can overcome the problems with his knowledge. No knowledge is better than the knowledge of self.

Knowing oneself means mastering one passion and controlling one’s traits and faculties. Thus, knowledge gives one immense power, so rightly said, “Knowledge Is Power.’

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Knowledge Is Power Essay

Knowledge is power. It can change one’s life and how one views oneself. Besides, it gives us the ability to influence what people do and how they act. This means that knowledge helps positively shape society, which benefits everyone. Education is essential for kids and can aid them greatly. When they learn, they are more likely to do well in school and life. Education is also a vital factor for children’s future. It helps them with future career planning, financial security and social connections. BYJU’S knowledge is power essay is an eye-opener for kids to understand the significance of knowledge.

Importance of Knowledge

Benefits of Knowledge

Knowledge is an essential part of life. It provides us with opportunities like learning new things and understanding others. Knowledge can help us in our professional lives, which can sometimes be more difficult when we lack knowledge.

Knowledge comes in different forms; it can be the books we read, the speech we listen to, the informative videos we watch, etc.

Some people may think that knowing more is a disadvantage, but they are wrong. If you think about it, driving without knowing properly can be dangerous because you lack the skills required for safe driving. By increasing our knowledge, we can gain control over our life.

Potential of Knowledge

Knowledge is a powerful thing. It can enlighten, empower, and inspire people to do great things. The power of knowledge is seen through its ability to make us understand others and make positive choices for all of us.

The potential of knowledge is to know what one does not know yet. One can be in a situation where they are unsure about something and have questions about it, or it can be a problem where there is too much information, and it’s difficult to filter through. The possibility of knowledge allows people to think outside the box and make connections that others cannot.

The knowledge is power essay in English PDF explores how it can help people grow as a person and change society for good. BYJU’S essay on the topic knowledge is power is enlightening for the little ones. For more essays to improve kids’ learning experience, visit BYJU’S website.

Frequently Asked Questions on Knowledge is Power Essay

Why is knowledge essential.

Knowledge is necessary for the betterment of society and humanity’s progress in the world. It also enhances our life experience by enlightening, empowering, and inspiring people to do great things. The power of knowledge is seen through its ability to make us understand others and make positive choices for all of us.

What is the potential of knowledge?

The potential of knowledge is a term used to describe the idea that the more knowledge we gain, the more our potential increases. This concept can be applied to multiple subjects.

Why should kids refer to BYJU’S knowledge is power essay?

Kids must refer to BYJU’S knowledge is power essay because it helps them understand the importance and potential of knowledge. It also helps them to comprehend the structure and process of writing an essay.

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Knowledge Is Power Essay for Students in English [Easy Words]

January 10, 2021 by Sandeep

Essay on Knowledge Is Power: The greatest distinguishing factor between humans and animals is intelligence and knowledge. Education and knowledge are two entirely different things. Learning combined with experience and wisdom is collectively called knowledge. A person may be well educated and learned but may not have the required knowledge in a particular field. Good knowledge helps us identify the good from the bad and makes us intellectually strong.

Essay on Knowledge Is Power 500 Words in English

We have provided Knowledge Is Power Essay in English, suitable for class 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10.

“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest” ~ Ben Franklin.

The presence of knowledge is crucial in our life. It is undoubtedly considered one of the most powerful entities in this world. Knowledge can be utilized to serve both positive and negative needs. It has the capability of creating lives. At the same time, it has much potential for destruction as well. Knowledge is the sole differentiator between humans and animals. We should use it for productive purposes like helping our community and nation.

What is Knowledge?

Knowledge can be referred to as the state of understanding or awareness. This understanding can be in the form of facts, wisdom, information, or skill, and it is usually acquired from a previous study or experience in life. Knowledge helps us become well-informed citizens. It is an ability that we can use to gather useful information and then make rational decisions based on it. The concept of knowledge is so vast that there is no end to it. It keeps on increasing with time. Intellectual processes like perception, logic, and communication are crucial for gaining knowledge.

Why is Knowledge Powerful?

“Knowledge is Power” is one of the most popular phrases in time. It was first used by Francis Bacon. The proverb means knowledge is all-powerful, and it can conquer the entire world. It empowers us with strength and makes us fearless. The more knowledge you gather, the better you will be in controlling your life situations. Knowledge and Power always go hand in hand. One of the classic examples is the story of America. What made America the most powerful nation in this world? We should be thinking about why it became a superpower in the first place.

America became a superpower because of its surplus natural resources and inventive measures. These inventions and resources were not a representation of luck. Rather, these people established a strong foundation of education. Education made them experiment, and experimentation promotes knowledge. This benefited their society and made them powerful enough to compete with the rest of the world. Hence, it would be correct to say that knowledge provides power, and power passes on knowledge.

Benefits of Knowledge

Not all people are knowledgeable. You need to earn knowledge as it cannot be bought. It is more important than all other riches. You can only measure its power if you are aware of its benefits. So let us take a look at some of these benefits of knowledge.

The more you share your knowledge with others, the more it increases.
It helps us become successful in our life. The power of knowledge is even more vital in this fast-paced world.
One must not only possess knowledge but also be aware of how to use it efficiently.
Learning is essential for progress and growth. Knowledge is a major contributor to personality development.
It hones our decision-making skills by helping us choose between right and wrong.
It boosts our confidence by encouraging us to defeat our weaknesses.
It brings a positive change in our society. Moreover, the development of our nation is dependent on the power of knowledge.
Knowledge inculcates critical thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving attitude in us.
It helps us in our day to day chores, and it also shapes our future.

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Knowledge is Power Speech

Speech on Knowledge is Power

Knowledge is power means that a person who has an education can completely control his life by using that knowledge. It empowers people to know how to control and use the forces of nature for profit. We can differentiate between right and wrong, good or bad employing our knowledge. Knowledge helps us to plan and guides us on the right path in our future. It also helps us overcome our faults and our confidence and control as soon as possible to face problems in our lives. It strengthens the person through the advancement of his mental and moral life.

Knowledge is a crucial tool for bringing about positive social change. We can say knowledge is the pillar of good fortune and success. We should therefore acquire knowledge and work honestly to protect our society against evil. Knowledge, in short, keeps people away from the struggles and other social evils in society.

Short Speech on Knowledge is Power

In the lives of humans, knowledge plays a key role. It helps people to achieve success, strength, and a position in their lives. I want to talk about "Knowledge is Power" in my speech today. Educated persons can easily handle the things in life. Knowledge is the most vital tool to give power to people, and any other power cannot defeat the power of knowledge on earth. We can also say that knowledge gives power to a person who fights for his rights and competes with the world.

It has created a difference between a man and an animal. Human beings cannot be compared to animals in physical power, but human beings have been the most powerful creature on earth only because of the power of knowledge. There is no doubt that someone with physical strength is influential, but a person with knowledge strength dominates above all. It helps us to distinguish between good and bad. It brings us forward in spirit, morally and mentally. Man now has the authority to control nature with knowledge.

Humans gained knowledge for centuries to transform society from a non-civilized phase to modern technology. Knowledge contributes to the development of art, literature, science, philosophy, and religion. With the help of knowledge, a mighty mind can rule the world. You're going to understand that money is just an object if you acquire knowledge. Knowledge is the real asset of human life. Human beings are too sharp and sensible creatures on earth as they have the power to change the world with their knowledge, research, and experiments.

Long Speech on Knowledge is Power

Today I would like to deliver the best speech on Knowledge is Power. We all know that "Knowledge is power." Our calling for knowledge is the power that can transform all your life and activities. Knowledge can function as an instrument for creating and destroying life on earth. We need the power of Knowledge to differentiate between humans and animals. We get the ability to help others with the help of knowledge, which helps us free ourselves. Everyone should gain knowledge to succeed in life. The two power instruments are called physical strength and money. A powerful physical man controls power over other people. However, knowledge is more powerful because it directs our actions and allows us to discover the differences between right and wrong, good or evil. It helps people overcome their weaknesses and defects to face extreme courage, confidence, fears, and difficulties. It brings us forward mentally, morally, and spiritually.

Furthermore, humans gained control over nature with the help of knowledge. We know that people were in a non-civilized stage some thousands of years ago. We were living in cellars and dens. Civilization gradually came into society, and we gained knowledge. We became civilized with attaining knowledge. Knowledge has now made us the ruler. We used nature's strength to meet our requirements. Man has been an outstanding scientist, an accomplished artist, a strong producer, and found a noble life path. Without knowledge, it would be challenging to advance society and culture. The advancement in art, literature, technology, philosophy, and religion plays a vital role in knowledge. Awareness is force, therefore. It led people to advance. knowledge affects and influences our development and our relationship with work and life. It can last for a lifetime and is important for personal growth and development. Knowledge can be gained through any form, such as art, dance, history, architecture, or even through personal development. Knowledge gives us the insight to make life-changing choices in life. However, to learn more, make progress, and achieve one's goals, it is important to adopt a positive attitude. Mighty minds, with the power of Knowledge, will rule the minds of millions. Knowledge is so powerful that it can ruin the entire world, and, on the other hand, it is a weapon that can bring harmony to the earth. A knowledgeable person is the wealthiest person on earth, and no one can steal their knowledge. But someone can easily take your money and power from you at any moment.

Moreover, it never decreases with usage and only increases with time. Consequently, a knowledgeable person is more valuable than a rich person since a rich person can give money to a country, but a knowledgeable person can give information to a nation, and that knowledge can also increase the wealth of a nation. In conclusion, we can say that real knowledge allows a person to grow. It also takes people away from war and corruption. Besides, knowledge brings prosperity and happiness to the country. Awareness, above all, opens the door to success for all.

10 Lines for Speech on Knowledge is Power

The proverb 'Knowledge is Power' implies that knowledge is the true power that remains with all of us throughout our lives.

Knowledge is of great importance to our lives.

Knowledge helps us to distinguish between right and wrong. It helps us overcome all the situations and dangers around us.

It helps the advancement of one's community or country.

The efficient use of knowledge can accomplish a good life.

Knowledge affects our personal growth and affects our advancement and our relationship between work and personal life.

With the aid of knowledge, you can solve problems. It improves our thinking and problem-solving skills.

One must remain open-minded to embrace and obtain knowledge. It helps to build a solid foundation.

Communication plays a crucial role in the transfer of knowledge. It helps us to identify our mistakes and help us to clarify our doubts.

Knowledge forms our professional and personal life and allows us to succeed.

FAQs on Knowledge is Power Speech

1. Why is knowledge considered to be powerful?

We may distinguish between right and wrong, good and terrible, through knowledge. Knowledge helps us in future planning and directs us in the proper direction. It also teaches us how to overcome our flaws and flaws, as well as how to meet life's challenges with confidence and control as quickly and easily as possible. Knowledge is the condition of being aware of, comprehending, and gaining precise knowledge about something, which is acquired by experience or study. This implies that a person can dynamically express himself and make informed judgments based on his daily experiences and comprehension. When a person utilises his knowledge to move in the correct direction, he is considered to be strong. A person develops power when he has the ability or capacity to act or perform successfully with his knowledge. Knowledge not only builds up over time, but it also grows exponentially. Furthermore, factual information aids cognitive functions such as problem-solving and thinking.

2. What's the meaning of the phrase 'A little knowledge is a dangerous thing'?

The saying 'A little knowledge is a dangerous thing' represents the idea that a little bit of information can persuade individuals to believe they are more knowledgeable than they are, which can lead to blunders. When a person shares his opinions with others and lacks sufficient understanding of a certain issue, particularly in the medical or educational fields, it can lead to harmful circumstances. People with limited expertise frequently mislead others. Innocent people or those who lack information may readily trust the person claiming to know everything since they are usually quite convincing. Due to their overconfidence, a person with insufficient information and understanding can potentially become a source of agony and even death. Alexander Pope is credited with creating this proverb. In 1709, he stated in his work An Essay on Criticism, "A little learning is a hazardous thing." Later, in 1774, Lady's Complete Magazine adopted it in its second edition, modifying the phrase to "A little knowledge is a hazardous thing." Since then, it has been customary to employ the proverb in nearly the same wording as it first appeared.

3. What are the benefits of knowledge?

The benefits of knowledge are:

Knowledge is essential for shaping our personalities and perfecting our actions and interactions with others. It teaches us to be wise enough to make our own decisions in life.

Knowledge sharpens one's critical thinking abilities. Knowledge is required to establish an opinion or build a line of thinking.

Knowledge gives a person the ability to analyse and assert situations. A solid knowledge foundation allows minds to perform more easily and effectively.

Knowledge enables a person to analyse and assert situations. Minds can function more simply and effectively when they have a firm knowledge basis.

Individuals' confidence can be boosted by knowledge.

A person can grasp the ways of changing and conforming to changes in his environment and living conditions with information.

Knowledge is crucial and beneficial in everyday situations. For example, if I need to buy airline tickets online, I must be familiar with the online sites and their discounts, terms and conditions, and also online banking. If I lack expertise, I end up paying more. So learning is a continuous process that is important every day.

4. What is the best way to write a speech?

Giving a class speech pushes students to step outside of their comfort zone, especially if they are required to give a speech on a social issue. With practice, students acquire confidence, conviction, and fluency as they learn to face their anxieties and respond articulately to objections. The following pointers will help students in making an effective speech:

When making a speech, one of the most important factors to consider is the size of the audience. Before diving into stacks of research resources, high school students should evaluate the audience and set for the speech.

Students should focus their attention and create a concise thesis statement that will serve as a guide for the rest of the presentation. The presenters should next select two or three significant subjects that they can cover in the allotted time.

Determine if your speech or presentation's primary objective is to inform, present, or entertain.

When practising, keep track of your time from start to finish and read the entire speech several times.

Incorporating hand gestures to illustrate points in your speech might be effective. Not only can hand gestures help you connect with the audience, but they will also help you recall crucial topics.

A few audience members will ask questions regarding your speech. Consider some of the things you may receive. Then write down your answers and practise saying them out loud.

5. Where can I get the English Speeches on important topics for school competitions?

Vedantu provides students with the necessary tools to create a speech or essay for a school competition. Students can use the free download option in both online and offline study tools to match their unique needs. Vedantu also offers a variety of example papers and revision notes for all topics. Subject matter experts created these study tools to assist students to improve their academic performance. Because our aim is on the student's entire improvement, the PDF is also written with the knowledge of key ideas in mind.

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What Did Francis Bacon Mean by “Knowledge Is Power”?

A deep dive into Francis Bacon’s theory of knowledge, his scientific discoveries, and his famous maxim “Knowledge is Power.”

The British empiricist philosopher Francis Bacon (1561-1626) was an important figure because he greatly contributed to the development of modern science. He believed that observation, experiment, and experience are crucial if we want to get to know the world around us. He maintained that position throughout his life, and so he’s a must-know thinker of the Renaissance. This article seeks to answer a number of questions: Who was he? How did he contribute to philosophy? What was his most important work and his most crucial views? And, what did he mean by “Knowledge is power”?

Who Was Francis Bacon?

Francis Bacon (1561-1626) was an English philosopher and statesman who lived during the beginning ages of the Renaissance . He is best known for his contributions to the development of the scientific method, and that’s why he is often regarded as one of the founders of modern science and empiricism. He was born on 22 January 1561 at York House near Strand in London. He attended Trinity College at the University of Cambridge. While on his studies at Cambridge, Bacon met Queen Elizabeth , who was impressed by his brightness and high intellect. In addition to his scientific contributions, Bacon served as the Lord Chancellor of England and made significant contributions to law, politics, and philosophy.

His studies brought him to the belief that the methods, results, and data that were being practiced at his time were fallacious. He expressed an enormous dissatisfaction with Aristotle’s method of deduction, which seemed barren, argumentative, and wrong in its objections to Bacon. That is why he came up with a method of his own and why to this day, he is recognized as a philosopher who contributed greatly to scientific progress during the Renaissance. But what did his philosophy really consist of? Why is he so important? And what kind of scientific method did he come up with? We’ll answer these questions throughout the text below.

Epistemology and Modern Science

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Let’s start off with his contribution to epistemology— the theory of knowledge. During Bacon’s life, there was a rising interest in scientifically exploring the world. Thinkers of the time rejected the religious and philosophical approach to examining reality only by pure reason. They believed that such a method does not bring accurate knowledge, and was too speculative. True knowledge is born using our experience, along with the methods of observation and experimentation. Bacon too held this position. In fact, he was the leading figure in promoting that position and spreading it all throughout the Renaissance.

Bacon advocated for a new approach to acquiring knowledge that emphasized observation, experimentation, and inductive reasoning. He believed that scientific knowledge should be based on empirical evidence rather than relying solely on tradition, authority, or abstract reasoning. Bacon emphasized the importance of gathering data through systematic observation and conducting experiments to test hypotheses. That’s why he is often regarded as one of the founders of modern science and empiricism. Although we may stumble upon writings that suggest that John Locke (1632-1704) is the father of modern empiricism, Bacon was the thinker who held and promoted empiricism before Locke.

Aristotle’s Influence

Advocating for modern science led Bacon to proclaim that “ Knowledge is Power .” He was referring to the knowledge that has the potential to empower individuals and societies. He believed that by acquiring knowledge and understanding the natural world, humans could gain control over it and harness its resources for their benefit. That’s because, in Bacon’s view, knowledge is not merely theoretical or abstract but has practical implications. It enables individuals to make informed decisions, solve problems, and achieve their goals: by acquiring knowledge, the individual acquires power.

Long before Bacon’s time, Aristotle published his book Organum , in which he presented his logic. The translation of the Greek word that Aristotle used—organum—is “instrument,” “tool.” What Aristotle refers to is that logic is the ultimate tool for acquiring knowledge and an essential skill of the mind with which individuals are able to use and operate to gain truth. In his book, Aristotle suggests that the method of deduction is the main basis for any logic of the mind. It’s the method that we want to use in order to gain certain knowledge that would be absolutely true.

Aristotle’s philosophy and logic were very influential throughout the ancient world and into the medieval (dark) ages. During the Dark Ages, philosophy was put into the service of theology. However, Aristotle’s logic still remained relevant, and theology used his logic to its own advantage. Thus, Aristotle’s deductive method remained the most influential scientific method for centuries.

Francis Bacon’s Novum Organum: The New Instrument

That is, until Bacon published his book Novum Organum in which he introduced the use of a “new instrument”— the inductive method . In this book, Bacon criticizes the traditional methods of acquiring knowledge and presents a new approach that emphasizes observation, experimentation, and inductive reasoning. The main idea in Francis Bacon’s Novum Organum is to propose a new method of scientific inquiry that would lead to the advancement of knowledge and the improvement of human life. Aristotle’s deductive method, says Bacon, is based on pure reason, detached from any physical observation and investigation of the real world. Instead, he proposes that knowledge should be built upon a solid foundation of empirical evidence obtained through careful observation and experimentation.

Bacon advocates for systematic data collection, the formulation of hypotheses, and the testing of those hypotheses through controlled experiments. That’s how he came up with a method that’s the complete opposite of Aristotle’s method—the method of induction . The inductive method involves drawing general conclusions based on specific observations or experiments. On the other hand, Aristotle’s deductive method had the opposite path—drawing specific conclusions based on general observations. Having this structure, the deduction method is not able to broaden our knowledge, leaving us with the knowledge that we already had before we began applying the method, and this is what Bacon objected against. He rejected it because we are unable to gain any additional knowledge, while the induction method that he suggests does enable us to gain new knowledge as well.

Francis Bacon’s Four Idols

francis bacon english philosopher statue

Since we’ve already mentioned the main idea in Bacon’s Novum Organum , it’s time to take a look at his concept of “ idols. ” The concept precedes the method of induction, but for the purpose of the text flow, we’ll be explaining it now. Before introducing the induction method as the new scientific method, Bacon took time to explain various errors and fallacies in human reason and understanding. The “ idols ” are actually various sources of error and bias that can hinder human understanding.. These idols are the results of the long-lasting tradition of reasoning that has shaped the way that humans think.

He identifies four types of idols, each representing different obstacles to attaining true knowledge. Idols of the Tribe (Idola Tribus) are inherent to human nature and arise from the common tendencies and limitations of the human mind. They include tendencies to simplify complex phenomena, impose patterns where none exist, and be influenced by personal biases or prejudices. The idols of the tribe stem from our shared human nature and can distort our perception of reality.

The Cave and The Marketplace

The Idols of the Cave refer to the individual biases and limitations of each person. They arise from one’s unique background, experiences, education, and perspectives. People tend to see the world through their own “cave” or personal viewpoint, which can lead to subjective interpretations and distortions of reality, says Bacon. That’s why he calls these fallacies ‘the idol of the cave.’

The Idols of the Marketplace arise from the use of language and communication. They refer to the misunderstandings and ambiguities that can arise from the imprecise and imperfect nature of human language. Words can be vague, says Bacon, and have multiple meanings or be subject to misinterpretation, leading to confusion and errors in understanding. Idols of the Theater stem from philosophical and intellectual systems, ideologies, or dogmas that people adopt and become attached to. They are the result of uncritical acceptance of traditional beliefs, philosophical frameworks, or misleading theories. The idols of the theater can limit intellectual freedom and prevent new insights and discoveries, making it seem like the performance we are seeing in the theater is the reflection of reality, when in fact, it’s actors starring in a made-up reality scenario.

Francis Bacon’s Further Influence

francis bacon novum organum induction book

It’s important to mention that Bacon did not invent the induction method himself. Aristotle knew about the method of induction long before Bacon and wrote extensively about it. But he still preferred the deductive method over the inductive one. Since we already covered the importance of scientific reasoning that Bacon preached about, and have seen what his maxim “ Knowledge is power ” means, let’s take a look at Francis Bacon’s philosophical importance and further influence. The most important aspect of his work is that he is often regarded as one of the founders of the empirical method in science.

Bacon advocated for systematic observation, experimentation, and inductive reasoning as the foundation for acquiring knowledge about the natural world. His emphasis on gathering data and conducting experiments laid the groundwork for the development of modern scientific methodology. Bacon’s ideas played a significant role in the broader context of the Scientific Revolution during the 17th century. Because he called for a new approach to knowledge and critiqued the traditional Aristotelian philosophy and scholasticism, he helped pave the way for the emergence of new scientific disciplines and paradigms. Again, at last, Bacon’s emphasis on induction provided a methodological framework for scientific investigation, which remains central to scientific inquiry today.

What is Renaissance Philosophy’s Connection to Mysticism?

By Antonio Panovski BA Philosophy Antonio holds a BA in Philosophy from SS. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia. His main areas of interest are contemporary, as well as analytic philosophy, with a special focus on the epistemological aspect of them, although he’s currently thoroughly examining the philosophy of science. Besides writing, he loves cinema, music, and traveling.

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Essay on Knowledge is Power

The phrase ‘knowledge is power’ is a very commonly used and popular phrase signifying the importance of knowledge in life and the power that it holds. I have given below three essays on knowledge is power, of varying lengths, covering all the aspects of the phrase.

Short and Long Essays on Knowledge is Power in English

I believe these essays of 100 words, 250 words and 600 words may help you elaborate the topic in an easiest way:

Knowledge is Power Essay 10 Lines (100 – 150 Words)

1) Knowledge is power when it is applied to the benefit of humanity.

2) Knowledge helps us to live life to the fullest.

3) We should use our knowledge in an appropriate manner.

4) The inappropriate use of knowledge is viewed as a crime.

5) Knowledge and intelligence make humans supreme creatures.

6) Progress without knowledge is impossible.

7) Knowledge helps to eliminate ignorance from our minds.

8) It is the only thing that increases if shared.

9) Knowledge enables us to avoid numerous difficult situations.

10) A physically disabled person can be powerful with knowledge.

Essay 1 (250 Words) – Meaning and Origin

Introduction

‘Knowledge is Power’ is a quotation that’s being used for ages. It conveys the significance of knowledge in life and teaches that knowledge is the actual power one can have.

‘Knowledge is power’ means that the knowledge that a person has acquired is the only true power that he has. Powerful in a way that it can shape your career, make you successful, and helps you overcome hurdles in your way. Nothing else could help you like the way your knowledge does. You make your future plans relying on your knowledge and steadily make progress. Knowledge helps you earn money, respect, and success in whatever field you are.

Moreover, come what may, you can’t lose your knowledge and it will always stay with you. Rest all the materialistic possessions come and go, but your knowledge stays with you.

The Latin translation of the phrase ‘knowledge is power’ is attributed to Sir Francis Bacon, an English philosopher and Statesman. The phrase “ipsa scientia est” appears in one of Bacon’s Latin works titled ‘Meditationes Sacrae (1597). The phrase translates to ‘knowledge itself is power’ in English.

However the exact phrase ‘scientia potentia est’ was written for the first time by Thomas Hobbes, who served as a secretary to Bacon. In his 1668 version of the Leviathan, Hobbes mentioned the phrase ‘scientia potentia est’ meaning ‘wisdom is power’ in English. It is an understandable fact that wisdom is acquired only through knowledge.

Knowledge is power is a very important phrase, telling us the significance of knowledge and that it is the true power a man can possess.

Essay 2 (400 Words) – How Knowledge gives Power

The quote ‘knowledge is power’ is widely used to convey the importance of knowledge in life and its true worth. Knowledge is the real power that any human can possess. It is much worth than physical power or any other possessions.

Value of Knowledge in Real Life

In real life, knowledge is worth more than anything else. It is a very basic skill that helps you walk through life and also make progress. Knowledge in real life is of two categories. One is the knowledge that you acquire through your senses as you grow up, other is the knowledge that is fed to you by your school, institution, etc.

The knowledge that you acquire by watching others around you, helps you in making everyday decisions based on wit and wisdom. It is the knowledge that tells you that bees can sting or you might get yourself injured if you take that jump. These are common worldly knowledge that you acquire as you grow up. Knowledge of this kind is very useful in real life.

Why Knowledge is Valuable than Money?

Knowledge is more valuable than money because it cannot be bought with money; rather money can be acquired using knowledge in the right way. Moreover, money is temporary and can be lost owing to several conditions. You can lose a great amount of your money in paying your medical bills or other miscellaneous expenses. But if you have the required knowledge and the skill sets, you can make use of them anytime to gain back money and materialistic possessions.

Knowledge-Power Relationship

Knowledge is indeed the real power a man can have. It is the power to control your life and make steady progress in the right direction. Without knowledge, you might have physical strength but that is only temporary and will be lost with time. On the other hand, knowledge is your true power and will help you walk through life. With knowledge, you can achieve whatever milestone you desire in your life. Without knowledge, you would be powerless and clueless about what to do with your life. The knowledge-power relationship is a direct one – as you gain more knowledge, you certainly become more powerful.

Knowledge is the true power that one can acquire in life. Compared to it all other powers are worthless and have lesser value. Knowledge is the real power that drives your life and makes you successful.

Essay 3 (500 – 600 Words) – Knowledge is Power, Learning is Superpower

‘Knowledge is Power’ is a quotation that establishes knowledge as the greatest virtue of a man. It states that the true power a man could have is the knowledge he possesses. Everything else is temporary and can be obtained using knowledge in the right way.

Importance of Knowledge in Life

Knowledge is very important in life; in fact, it is the basic foundation stone upon which life progresses. Knowledge is the most essential quality a human could have. So many things in life – money, love, relationships, career, etc. all depend on one’s quality of knowledge. These can be obtained through knowledge. The best thing about knowledge is that it is permanent – once you have acquired it, no power in the world can delete it. Rest everything i.e. money, wealth, relationships, can be lost with time, but knowledge grows every moment and can well be used to claim back the losses.

Knowledge decides your life’s worth and how successful you would be. Friends will respect you; people will love you when you have knowledge. Without knowledge, there would be no acknowledgment. Therefore, knowledge is very important in life.

How Knowledge Gives Power?

The relationship between knowledge and power is the strongest and truest relationship among all. Let me explain. What do you understand by power? Most people confuse power with physical prowess, but that’s only a misconception. The real power rather lies in your knowledge that you possessed. Knowledge makes you witty and in a way more powerful than someone physically stronger than you but less knowledgeable.

The power that knowledge gives you can be used to handle your life and achieve your life goals. Can anything else – money, friends, relatives, etc will help you achieve that milestone? Absolutely not! Only knowledge can get you what you want to do in life. This is the real power of knowledge.

Also, there are many real-life situations when only your knowledge can help you but not your physical strength. Your physical strength has its own limitations and can’t be applied to face real-life problems. There you need wisdom and wit that only knowledge can give you.

Knowledge is Power Learning is Superpower

Knowledge and learning are inseparable. When you gain knowledge, you learn too. Learning unleashes your true potential as a human. It acquaints you with your own abilities like memory, grasping power, etc., and constantly improves them.

It is the superpower than lies within you and needs to be improved regularly. Something that is only possible when you strive to learn. Only when you learn that you will possess knowledge. For example, if someone is known to have good knowledge of Physics, that means he/she is familiar with all the concepts of the subject and is always ready to face a test. But, how has he/she has possessed the knowledge? Only through regularly learning the new concepts of the subject! Isn’t it so? Only if you learn that you acquire knowledge. It is true for every field of knowledge. When you don’t learn or have only superficial knowledge of anything, that doesn’t really help.

Superficial or part knowledge isn’t good and rather it may be harmful at times. Part knowledge will impact your ability to see the final results. Only if you have learned enough to gain complete knowledge of something, that you will be knowledgeable in true sense. It is, therefore, true that ‘knowledge is power and learning is a superpower’.

Knowledge is the most valuable skill a human can acquire. Without knowledge, there is no wisdom and hence no growth or progress. Knowledge and learning are two essential prerequisites for prosperity and growth in life.

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

Ans . Knowledge means to know or understand something and it is attained by learning and experience.

Ans . The famous quote ‘Knowledge is power’ has been created by Sir Francis Bacon.

Ans . Knowledge is power because it makes us intelligent and helps us in making better decisions.

Ans . Yes, education helps us in attaining knowledge and skills.

Ans . The best method of improving our knowledge is reading.

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Essay on Knowledge is Power in English For Students & Children

We are Sharing an Essay on Knowledge is Power in English for students. In this article, we have tried our best to provide a Short Knowledge is Power Essay for Class 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 in 100, 250, 300, 400, 500 words.

Essay on Knowledge is Power in English For Students

Knowledge is Power Essay in 100 words

Knowledge helps man attain success, position, and power in life. Physical strength and money are also power. But knowledge is superior to any other power. A man of knowledge tames physically stronger animals. He rides an elephant. He puts the lion in a cage. It is the knowledge that has made progress possible in life. Man has become the master of the earth, ocean, and sky. Science can become the ally or enemy of man according to man’s desire. Great philosophers have moulded the destiny of the world. Rousseau caused Fierich Revolution. Karl Marx found out the truth about social phenomena. Plato laid down what an ideal state should be. it is, therefore, preferable to have the power of knowledge than any other power.

Essay on Knowledge is Power in 400 to 500 words

“Knowledge is power”. There are so many kinds of power that a man can possess: the power of physical strength, the power of money, or the power of the support of men. But the power of knowledge is the strongest of all.

Knowledge is all that a person knows. And that knowing at a deeper level is actually ‘knowledge’. Thoreau says: “To know what we know, and that we do not know what we do not know—that is true knowledge.” Whatever one comes to know, he must know it thoroughly. He must not learn anything half-heartedly. In that case, he cannot be called a knowledgeable person.

Those, who have prospered in life, either in learning or in politics or in any other field of life, are found to possess knowledge in that stream. Without knowledge, it is not possible to rise high in life. A soldier is called knowledgeable if he knows the necessary arts of warfare; a doctor is called knowledgeable if knows how to treat a patient efficiently; a teacher is called knowledgeable if he knows how to impart true knowledge to his pupils.

The ocean of knowledge is bottomless. The more one moves deep into it, it appears deeper to him at every step. There is no limit or end to the world of knowledge. Sterne says: “The desire of knowledge, like the thirst of riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it.” Once the nectar of knowledge is tested by someone, he cannot restrain his desire for further knowledge. He is forced to proceed further and further to acquire more and more wisdom.

There is a Sanskrit proverb: “A king is worshiped in his kingdom only, while a learned man is worshiped all over the world.” This is, no doubt, a true statement. A wise and learned man can find his home in any corner of the world. He becomes fearless, broad-minded, and a perfect human being with a clear vision of life.

It is the knowledge of science, medicine, literature, and politics that has brought many new ideas and gifts for mankind. Discoveries, inventions, and research works of the men of knowledge and wisdom have made this world worth living for us. We are proud of the superior knowledge of the great men and women of the world.

The first step to knowledge is to begin from the preliminary stage, and then to enter deeper into the bottom of the subject to gain true knowledge. Knowledge makes one wise. Wisdom is a precious thing in life. It is the wise men who can become great. A wise or knowledgeable man is truly powerful in all respects.

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Knowledge is power (Quotation)

The phrase "knowledge is power" is often attributed to Francis Bacon, from his Meditationes Sacrae (1597). [1]

Thomas Jefferson used the phrase in his correspondence on at least four occasions, each time in connection with the establishment of a state university in Virginia.

In an 1817 letter to George Ticknor, Jefferson equated knowledge with power, safety, and happiness:

[T]his last establishment [a state university] will probably be within a mile of Charlottesville, and four from Monticello, if the system should be adopted at all by our legislature who meet within a week from this time. my hopes however are kept in check by the ordinary character of our state legislatures, the members of which do not generally possess information enough to percieve the important truths, that knolege is power, that knolege is safety, and that knolege is happiness. [2]

In two 1820 letters to Joseph Cabell, Jefferson again emphasized the importance of knowledge:

Kentucky, our daughter, planted since Virginia was a distinguished state, has an University, with 14. professors & upwards of 200 students. ... all the states but our own are sensible that knolege is power. [3]

[I]t is unquestionable that [Virginia] has more influence in our confederacy than any other state in it. whence this ascendancy? from her attention to education unquestionably. there can be no stronger proof that knolege is power, and that ignorance is weakness. [4]

Continuing to write on the subject of a state university, Jefferson referred to the power of knowledge in an 1821 letter to John Taylor:

[Northeastern] seminaries are no longer proper for Southern or Western students. the signs of the times admonish us to call them home. if knolege is power we should look to it's advancement at home, where no resource of power will be unwanting. [5]

^ John Bartlett, Familiar Quotations , 10th ed. (Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1919), 168 . The entry for this quotation is available online at Bartleby.com .
^ Jefferson to Ticknor, November 25, 1817, in PTJ:RS , 12:204. Transcription available at Jefferson Quotes & Family Letters .
^ Jefferson to Cabell, January 22, 1820, in PTJ:RS , 15:344-46. Transcription available at Founders Online.
^ Jefferson to Cabell, December 25, 1820, Special Collections , University of Virginia Library. Transcription available at Founders Online.
^ Jefferson to Taylor, February 14, 1821, Washburn Collection, Massachusetts Historical Society . Transcription available at Founders Online.

ADDRESS: 931 Thomas Jefferson Parkway Charlottesville, VA 22902 GENERAL INFORMATION: (434) 984-9800

Knowledge is Power Essay

‘Knowledge is Power’ is a proverb refers that knowledge is a true power which always remains with the person in all good and bad times. Knowledge makes a person powerful and empowers to win over any condition.

Long and Short Essay on Knowledge is Power in English

Knowledge is power essay 1 (100 words).

Knowledge is power proverb is said by the Francis Bacon. Knowledge is power means; a person having more knowledge will be able to control circumstances in the life accordingly. Knowledge is power really means if one has complete knowledge, he/she can be more powerful in the world and do not require other things in life such as anyone’s help, friends, etc. Knowledge is a most strong tool provides power to people which cannot be defeated by other power on the earth. Knowledge provides social power to person holding certain power over those people who do not. Knowledge and power is a go together forever guy, help to address various difficulties in life. We can say that knowledge gives power and power gives knowledge.

Knowledge is Power Essay 2 (150 words)

The real meaning of proverb ‘Knowledge is Power’ (said by the Francis Bacon) is, knowledge is truly a power and power of knowledge is almost everything. Actually, that is the knowledge which has distinguished the difference in man from animals. Human beings cannot compare animals in the physical power however have been counted as the most powerful creature on the earth just because of the power of knowledge.

Human beings are physically weaker than animals yet they have managed things for years to become the most powerful creature on earth. Because they get power from knowledge and not depend on the physical strength. Human beings are clever creature of nature, they have ability to acquire knowledge and preserve their knowledge, research and experiences in the books in order to pass to the new generations. Knowledge gives them power to know how to control the forces of nature and then use them for getting benefited.

Knowledge is Power Essay 3 (200 words)

Knowledge is power is the famous proverb which means knowledge is very powerful and has ability to win over all other physical power in the world. Once a person gets power of knowledge, he/she do not need to fear from other power. Knowledge plays great role in all aspects of the life by let us know the easy and effective ways to solve the circumstances. Knowledge is a very powerful factor which helps us to easily get name, fame, success, power and position in the life. We can say that money and physical strength are also important tools of power; however both of them are not so powerful like knowledge. Money and physical strength cannot buy or steal the knowledge; it can only be achieved by the continuous practice, devotion, and patience.

Knowledge helps us to convert our planning into the right action and enables to get the difference between right or wrong and good or bad. It helps us to overcome our weaknesses and faults as well as makes us able to face the dangers and difficulties by giving lots of courage and confidence. It makes a person more powerful by giving him mental, moral and spiritual advancement in the life.

Knowledge is Power Essay 4 (250 words)

Knowledge is power which we can say that it is almost everything because it has ability to make a physically weak person a most strong person of the world. It gives everything in the life like money, power, name, fame, success and position. Knowledge gives a person ability to understand, analyze, make better decisions and evolve most intelligent thoughts. It gives us feeling of well being and helps to improve the lives of us and people in our surroundings.

A more knowledgeable person in the society becomes more valuable and respected. A knowledgeable person gets more fame very easily and people want to work with him. Knowledge is the way to more doors and opportunities in the life. Knowledge provides actual freedom in the life and opens all the doors of success. Knowledge provides power to speak through our mind which really helps people to understand who you truly are.

Knowledge is very important tool to get positive changes in the society and country. Knowledge helps us to absorb things from the genius people which have potential to improve the quality of life. Knowledge is the only precious thing which nobody can take away from us; it remains with us forever and increases if we distribute it among the needy people. It gives new and revolutionary ideas which help to alter the way of viewing the world. So, we can say that knowledge is pillar to the success and happiness.

Knowledge is Power Essay 5 (300 words)

Knowledge is power proverb is said by the Francis Bacon, a great essayist. He had given his opinion that knowledge is the source of power to man. The meaning of knowledge is power is that real power comes from the knowledge which distinguishes man from animals. It is very true that human beings are physically weak than animals however they are not so weak by mind because they have knowledge which gives them true power to handle almost everything in the world. Man is considered as the clever creature on the earth even after being weak physically than other creatures.

Man has a mind, full of knowledge and thus full of power which make them able to manage various up and down circumstances in the life. There are many things which man cannot do physically such as running on bare foot, see far like an eagle, run so fast like panther, fight with forest animals, carry heavy loads, smell fast like dog, etc; but he can do all things through the technologies developed by him by using his power of knowledge.

Man has ability to get knowledge (from books, research and experience), preserve into books and again pass on that knowledge to their successive generations. Knowledge is a power which can control nature’s forces as well as giving benefits. The use of knowledge depends on the man; he can use it in positive and negative ways too. The use of knowledge in positive ways give lots of benefits to the humanity however, in the negative ways, it may destroy the whole planet. Man has power to wisely use the knowledge for mankind in order to create a better and safer world.

True knowledge keeps people away from the fights, corruption and other social issues harmful for the humanity. Undoubtedly, we can say that knowledge is power which can bring countless happiness to the people if it is used in the right direction especially for the welfare of whole humanity. Knowledge opens the eyes of people and opens all the way to success.

Knowledge is Power Essay 6 (400 words)

Knowledge is power is the most famous and true proverb said by the famous personality named, Francis Bacon. Knowledge helps to differentiate between human beings and animals. Man has mind and ability to use the power of knowledge accordingly, that’s why man is called as the most powerful and intelligent creature on the earth by the nature. Knowledge helps in improving the personality of man; it creates self confidence and brings lots of patience to do most difficult tasks in the life. We can say godmother to the knowledge because it gives ways to all the discoveries, inventions, and explorations.

Knowledge gain is not limited to anything; it can be gained by the person all through the life of any age. Knowledge gain is a long process of dedication, patience and continuity. It is like unlimited money which can never be finished, however the level of knowledge of a person increases with the distribution among needy people. A person can gain some new knowledge through the regular observation and experimentation. Every person take birth with same quality, mind and power, however when he/she grows develops different quality, mind and power; all differences are just because of the knowledge level of every person. For example, Newton discovered theory of gravitation and there are other many famous scientists who have been discovered amazing things in life involving in making life easy and advance on the earth. All have been possible because of the power of knowledge.

All the modern technologies discovered in many countries individually have made countries so powerful economically and militarily than other countries, all are based on knowledge. The underlying secret of every success is the power of knowledge which ultimately gives a person name, fame and money. India has also done a lot in the field of science, research, medicine, education, etc; still developing continuously in various fields to be a powerful country on the basis of knowledge. The progress of human beings or any country is completely depends on the growth of knowledge in various fields in the positive and constructive ways. Use of knowledge in destructive and negative ways may hugely disturb the life existence on the earth.

Francis Bacon has said that knowledge is itself a power, having ability to change everything. Knowledge gives way to handle situation, to make plan, the way to implement plan and make impossible things possible. If one has complete knowledge, he/she is the luckiest and richest person in the world because knowledge can never be stolen or plundered and does not decrease even when it is given to others. In fact, knowledge is a power and we can say that the strongest power in the world is knowledge.

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Essay on knowledge is power 11 Models

Essay on knowledge is power, in this essay we will address one of the most important topics that are repeated in exams. The importance of this topic is due to the importance of knowledge to humans. Knowledge is the only means to progress and prosperity.

Below we will present a 150 word essay for the primary stage. You will find also a graph and a 200-word essay for grade 8. And we will not forget to provide 300 words essay for the tenth grade.

Essay on knowledge is power

Knowledge is the power that human beings should possess, where people progress when they are interested in science and knowledge in the first place.

Knowledge is the scientists’ awareness of a certain scientific fact, after it was vague and they tried to decipher its symbols in several ways until they were able to succeed.

Because of the importance of knowledge, we find that all monotheistic religions call man to learn and not to live in ignorance.

types of knowledge

The first kind of knowledge is the kind that is useful and that motivates people to progress, and it has several branches.

Knowledge may be related to human health, as everything that benefits health and prevents diseases is constantly being searched for.

Scientists are not only trying to prevent the disease before it occurs, but they are trying to treat patients faster and easier.

There is knowledge related to the tools that we need in our daily life, which is why millions of tools are being invented with the aim of helping people.

There is knowledge related to transportation because of the importance of an easy and safe way to transport people from one place to another.

And this knowledge is being developed continuously, as we see around us that humans used animals for the purposes of travel and transportation.

But with the passage of time he invented the carts and developed them in an incredible way.

Despite the ease of using cars, he was not satisfied with it, but he invented airplanes until he was finally able to travel to space.

But there are some people who seek to acquire knowledge harmful to mankind, and this is the second type of knowledge, such as those who are determined to invent deadly means in order to fight and exterminate others.

There are some scientists who have lost humanity and started making diseases in the laboratory to be used as weapons in wars. Knowledge is a great power, but it must be used for good, not evil.

The benefits of knowledge for humans

Our daily life needs a lot of knowledge in order to live easier and faster, such as knowledge related to household means that help us and save time and effort.

There is knowledge that serves humans in the development of transportation to facilitate our transportation with good safety rates against accidents.

The most important knowledge that we need is knowledge related to medicine and the treatment of serious diseases that threaten the lives of many people.

And we will not forget the development in scientific and technological knowledge that helps students learn and progress in various fields.

At the end of this interesting topic, we knew that knowledge is power because of the strength and progress it provides to humanity. Without knowledge, people would still be living in caves and wearing animal fur.

But different knowledge changed the condition of humans in an amazing way, they were able to build skyscrapers.

And they were able to travel by plane and go to outer space.

As for medicine, people knew a lot about the diseases that were killing large numbers, and then they invented medicine for them.

Knowledge essay

Knowledge is what moved humans from a certain place to a new and unexpected place, as humans began their lives on planet Earth by moving from one place to another due to the search for food.

But with time, man was able to acquire important knowledge that was the first reason for his stability and stopping of movement. Man knew agriculture for the first time, as he was able to grow his own food for the first time.

After planting food, he stopped searching for food and moving from one place to another.

After man settled next to his cultivation, he felt happiness and belonging to the land, and he no longer felt fear and threat from not getting food.

After that, he acquired a new skill or knowledge, which is writing. Where he began to write down everything that happens in his life in the form of drawings and then symbols.

Man evolved day after day until he was able to write in specific languages that distinguish each group and each civilization from other civilizations.

And we will not forget the most important knowledge acquired by the ancient man, which is lighting a fire, as he was able to cook food after he was eating it without cooking. Man has lived a large period of his life imitating the creatures he sees around him. He slept in caves and wore the furs of the animals he hunted.

As for food, he faced a big problem with it, as he used to eat all kinds of food without cooking. But his life changed significantly after he discovered the fire.

Paragraph on knowledge is power

When we talk about knowledge and its power in our lives, we must understand what is meant by knowledge. Scientists have defined knowledge in several ways, including being aware of the information on your own without the help of others.

It is said that a person acquires knowledge from the environment around him through his contact with it, and he acquires various knowledge and experiences.

Knowledge differs from one person to another and from one environment to another, as there are people who acquire a lot of knowledge from their parents and the surrounding community.

There are some people who find it very difficult to acquire knowledge from parents because of the parents’ lack of experience and their inability to communicate with their children.

As for society, some people may not benefit from it because of their inability to mix and because of their shyness or fear of society. This is what distinguishes one person from another.

As for education in schools and universities, it provides learners with knowledge of a different kind than what society offers and mixing with people on the street or at work.

Knowledge is Power Essay in English 150 Words

Knowledge is everything that humans can know or see, whether by chance or by intent, as man knew fire by chance, he was able to go up to space on purpose and by several experiments. Scientists say that there are some differences between science and knowledge, where science is defined as interest in a particular field and not others, while knowledge is said to be interest in all sciences.

Knowledge has a great power that we can notice when we look at advanced peoples, where we find that science and knowledge are their first priorities. These peoples have known the secret of progress and distinction and have worked to discover new knowledge that no one else has preceded them. They have developed education and scientific research to serve all areas of their life. And, of course, they developed the knowledge of technology to use to help them move forward.

These peoples did not forget to develop ways to defend their country, such as developing weapons and military equipment. The development of weapons has advantages and disadvantages. One of the advantages is that the state is immune to aggression, but one of the most serious disadvantages is that these weapons are used to attack others.

Among the worst knowledge which is used for evil and harming people without committing any sin.

Knowledge is power essay in english for class 10

Why is it said that knowledge is a power or a weapon in the hands of its owner? The reason is that when a person acquires some kind of useful knowledge, he is able to move forward and succeed.

But knowledge is of two types, some of which is harmful to others, and some of which is useful and beneficial to humanity.

Therefore, we must say that knowledge is a double-edged sword, and we must encourage good knowledge and stay away from harmful knowledge.

It is harmful knowledge that people focus on using their progress in matters that are destructive to humans. This knowledge is like making weapons to be used to destroy humans.

As for useful knowledge, it is like the pharmaceutical industry, which is being developed in a striking way every day.

This medicine helps a large number of patients, the most important of which are young children who suffer from serious diseases that may cause death.

We will not forget the use of knowledge in education, as the means of science and knowledge have been developed, which made it develop in an unprecedented way.

This development has made students able to access all kinds of education they want.

Education is no longer as difficult as it was before, as technology has developed greatly, and distance learning has become one of the easiest types of learning.

One of the most important things that knowledge has provided to students is the abundance and ease of access to information.

Information is power essay

These days, information has become one of the most important weapons that make a person strong, and elevate people. There is a huge information revolution that has taken off and spread widely.

But everything in life has advantages and disadvantages, and one of the advantages of information is that it elevates people’s thinking and makes them move forward. Because of modern technology, people can access all the information they want to access.

One of the disadvantages of information is that it can be harmful because it is inaccurate. With the increase in the flow of information, it began in the stage of falsehood and lack of credibility.

We begin to see information being falsified or released for the purpose of rumors and destruction of others. Because of these rumors and misinformation, people may be harmed, and this harm may be psychological or physical, depending on the type of harm that people are exposed to.

Paragraph writing on knowledge is power

When humans decided to learn, this was one of the best decisions they made, as science and knowledge changed all aspects of their lives.

After a person was living a life of nomadism and movement from one place to another, he began to settle. This development was one of the best that happened to mankind, as he knew what it meant to have a home and a place of his own. He lived by hunting animals, sometimes finding food and losing it most of the time.

But when he learned agriculture, he became stronger than before, as he knew several types of plants until he was able to provide his food well.

With time, he gained new knowledge as he developed equipment that helps him in farming and makes it easier for him to deal with crops that are difficult to handle by hand. This equipment allowed him to increase the quantities and types cultivated, which provided food for large numbers of people.

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Knowledge is Power Essay in English With Outline

Knowledge is Power Essay in English with Outline and headings because “The only source of knowledge is an experience.” Knowledge is the actual power of the person. Knowledge is the awareness and familiarity attained by the experience of a fact and through study. This power has more strength than the physical power. Knowledge has no partiality. The person who does more effort will be able to get more knowledge. Knowledge of any field is unlimited. Not every person will be able to get knowledge of every science and every field of life. The first revelation of our HOLY PROPHET PBUH also related to knowledge and emphasizes its importance and sleekness. Allah said:

“It is a revelation which has been revealed to him and taught to him by the great mighty one. One strong, then he stood straight and he appeared on the uppermost horizon He then came nearer and nearer until he was as close to him as the distance of two bows, or even less. “

Learning has no limit. No person can compete in this world without knowledge. Both worldly knowledge and Islamic knowledge are necessary to be successful in this life and the world hereafter. Our holy prophet PBUH strongly emphasizes the sleekness of knowledge as

“He dieth not who seek knowledge”

Knowledge is the sole power that can make a layman person to be a sophisticated one. Knowledge is the only power that is the true companion in difficult situations. If the person has the power of knowledge he can defeat all other powers.

“Knowledge is power “Francis Bacon

It is the true proverb. Knowledge has to distinguish from others. It helps to improve the personality. Knowledge gives the person an aesthetic sense. It makes great people. Students achieve their dreams and ambitions through knowledge. Knowledge is the way to learn different things. It is the key to success. Man has different sources of attaining knowledge. Knowledge is that power that can give benefits to mankind. It is fruitful for others. Knowledge gives the sense of good or bad, evil or good, truth or false. It makes a person with excellent attributes. It makes the person’s mindset positive. It makes a person who is helpful to society. It is a vital and basic tool that plays an important role in society and character building. This is a very precious thing. It gives happiness and makes us enable to spread happiness among others. Man has the power to create a better and safe world through knowledge. Well, this is all for Knowledge is Power Essay in English With Outline from our side if you wanted to add something to it then you can by letting us know in the comment section below on this page.

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Essay On ‘Knowledge Is Power’ – 10 Lines, Short & Long Essay For Kids

Key Points to Remember When Writing An Essay on ‘Knowledge Is Power’ For Lower Primary Classes

10 lines on ‘knowledge is power’ for kids, a paragraph on ‘knowledge is power’ for children, short essay on ‘knowledge is power’ for kids in 150 words, long essay on ‘knowledge is power’ in english for children, what your child will learn from the essay.

Knowledge is the most powerful thing in the world we live in today. Knowledge enriches the journey called life, and wisdom ensures survival. Being knowledgeable translates into being aware, smart, and valued. Kids need to learn this fact very early; they need to know that success and respect seldom knock on the door without knowledge. Kids can learn and remember this by writing an essay on the topic. In this article, we present to you some sample ‘Knowledge Is Power’ essays in English your child can read and understand before they write their own essay. These essays on ‘Knowledge Is Power’ are suitable for classes 1, 2 and 3.

Writing an essay on a topic as extensive as ‘knowledge’ needs clarity of thoughts that kids in the lower grades lack. These key points can help your child draft a good composition on the topic.

The essay needs to have a well-rounded introduction regarding what knowledge is and how it is the source of power in today’s world. The idea of power needs clarity.
The body of the essay should cover points like how having knowledge helps, how it provides an edge, enhances personality, opens up opportunities, etc.
The conclusion should have a summary of all the points mentioned above.

Kids need to understand the importance of acquiring knowledge from an early age. Therefore, they are often asked to create write-ups on topics that teach them life skills. Here are a few lines on ‘Knowledge Is Power’ for kids looking for sample 10-line essays for classes 1 and 2.

Our ability to acquire knowledge in any field makes us unique as human beings.
Knowledge is boon when applied for the betterment of society.
Awareness of the present and the past makes us smart and bright and gives us an edge in society.
Knowledge leads to wisdom and a better understanding of things around.
With knowledge, we can have better control of our lives and contribute well to the liberation of humankind.
Nobody can progress without appropriate knowledge.
Knowledge eradicates ignorance.
Knowledgeable people can take futuristic decisions in life.
Knowledge can outshine all kinds of disabilities.
Knowledge increases on sharing.

Writing on topics like ‘Knowledge Is Power’ is an enriching experience for kids. Below is a sample for your child to better understand how they can write a paragraph on the topic.

Having knowledge can be defined as the continuous process of being aware of specific facts, processes, skills, information, description, etc., crucial for growth and better life quality. ‘Knowledge is power’ is a phrase we have heard for ages. It establishes the importance of knowledge in one’s life. It signifies that knowledge is the kind of treasure nobody can steal, and the more you share it, the more it will grow. Our ability to learn new things makes us superior and unique from other creatures. It helps us overcome all problems in our lives and therefore, is an authentic power against all ignorance.

Here is a short 150-word essay on the topic for classes 1, 2 and 3:

Everyone has heard that knowledge is power. But what kind of power can a knowledgeable person have? Power, in this case, stands for the ability to make the right life decisions to perform efficiently and effectively in this dynamic world. And this ability comes with proper knowledge. Knowledge enhances cognitive abilities and allows us to seek meaningful solutions to all kinds of problems. It is essential to understand that knowledge cannot be bought; it is an unending process of learning and exploration. If someone wants to drive a car, they need to have the right driving techniques. Once they know how to drive a car, they have acquired the ability to drive the vehicle out on the road. It is all related; all kinds of skills need knowledge and constant practice. Knowledge influences growth in life.

Acquiring knowledge should be the ultimate goal of a person, and kids should understand this sooner. Given below is an essay for class 3 on the topic.

A country grows and becomes powerful by having the right amount of knowledgeable people as its citizens. They can help boost economic and social development, which is the actual testimony of power. Knowledge brings positivity, exclusivity and, most importantly, wisdom in understanding right and wrong. Let’s explore more about the phrase ‘Knowledge Is Power’.

Meaning And Origin Of The Phrase ‘Knowledge Is Power’

‘Knowledge is power’ is a very commonly used phrase as it establishes the importance of knowledge in an individual’s life and elaborates on the power a knowledgable person can hold. The credit for enlightening us with this phrase goes to Sir Francis Bacon, an English philosopher. The term ‘ipsa scientia potestas est’ first appeared in one of Francis’s Latin works called ‘Meditationes Sacrae’ (1597), which in English means ‘knowledge itself is power’. But, it is also said to have come from a phrase Sir Francis Bacon’s secretary, Thomas Hobbes, wrote for the first time in his version of Leviathan in 1668, ‘scientia potentia est’, which means ‘wisdom is power’.

Why Knowledge Is Important And How It Gives Us Power

Acquiring knowledge is an unending process of learning and simultaneous growth. Nobody can negate its importance in an individual’s life and the power it holds. It can get us better job opportunities, help us make sensible decisions, and provide us with appropriate guidance to solve any problem. It also helps us gain respect, wealth, and standing in society. Knowledge equips us with clarity of thoughts and helps us express our views confidently.

Benefits Of Knowledge

It provides clarity of thoughts and enables us to form appropriate opinions.
It helps in acquiring specific life-changing skills.
Helps us differentiate between right and wrong.
Boost confidence and helps in enhancing personality.
It helps us contribute toward the emancipation of society.
It prepares us to face problems.
Eradicates ignorance and encourages positivity.
It helps us hone skills in a progressing environment.
It opens up better job options and stimulates personal growth.
A nation develops multiple folds with the help of knowledgeable citizens.

Why Knowledge Is More Valuable Than Money

Money may end without proper knowledge, but knowledge can help us earn and save money and also gain returns on it. So yes, knowledge is more valuable than money, which is why it is often referred to as being the only treasure a person can have that increases with sharing.

Why Insufficient Knowledge Is Dangerous

One should have proper and complete knowledge of everything because insufficient knowledge will not add value and direction to their life. They are bound to become biased, which will hamper their sense of judgment in the long run. Thus, insufficient knowledge will lead to mistakes and impact growth opportunities.

The Best Ways To Improve Knowledge

We can seek professional guidance for acquiring knowledge in a particular field. However, there are some more ways we can improve our knowledge. Being observant and a good listener, socialising with intelligent people, reading books and newspapers, and staying updated are a few ways to do so. Being inquisitive about things around us will boost our thirst for knowledge.

Your child will learn the importance of continuous learning to make better decisions in life. They will also understand that they can lead a happy and satisfactory life with knowledge.

A kid should understand the importance of acquiring knowledge early on, and writing an essay on the topic is a good way of doing that.

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Knowledge is Power Essay

Knowledge is the best and suitable means to empower people, knowledge is the light which cannot be suppressed by any kind of darkness on earth. Knowledge empowers people to have a definite hold on those who do not have understanding. Knowledge and power always go hand in hand to help a person in various difficulties of life. We can say that knowledge gives power, and power gives knowledge.

Table of Contents

Short and Long Essay on Knowledge is Power in English

Essay 1 (300 words).

There is a very famous saying that “Knowledge is power”, which means that knowledge has great power and has the ability to conquer all the material forces of the world. If a person gets the power of knowledge only once, then he need not be afraid of anything. We have to acquire knowledge by easy and effective ways to solve situations as it plays an important role in every aspect of life.

knowledge a power tool

Knowledge is very powerful factor, which helps us to get name, fame, success, power and position in our life easily. We can say that money and physical strength are also important tools of power, however, neither of them is as powerful as knowledge. Money and physical strength can neither buy nor steal knowledge. This can only be achieved through constant practice, perseverance and patience.

Knowledge is a power, but knowledge does not come from power. Knowledge is a thing that can be acquired through experience or study. Knowledge is learning specific information about something. Knowledge is a tool of power for people. No one can beat knowledge in this world. The understanding of the people depends on the knowledge, but it is the knowledge which gives the people the power to live in the society.

Knowledge helps us to implement our plans properly and enables us to differentiate between right and wrong as well as good and bad. It enables us to face dangers and difficulties with courage and confidence, while helping us to overcome our own weaknesses and flaws. It makes the person more powerful by providing mental, moral and spiritual advancement in life.

Essay 2 (400 words)

We can say that in fact “Knowledge is Power” and it holds great importance in our life as it has the ability to make a physically weak person the most powerful person in the world. It gives us everything in life; Like gives wealth, power, name, fame, success and position. Knowledge gives a person the ability to understand, analyze, make better decisions, develop the most intelligent ideas. It gives us a sense of well being and helps us to improve our own lives and the lives of those around us.

” It is better not to be born than to be ignorant”

“The ignorant begin a little work but are greatly disturbed” Shakespeare wrote, “Ignorance is darkness.” The famous philosopher Plato has said, “It is better not to be born than to be ignorant, because ignorance is the root of all misfortunes.” A person having knowledge becomes more valuable and respected in the society. A more knowledgeable person gets more fame very easily and people want to work with him. Knowledge is the way to get more opportunities and opportunities in life. Knowledge provides real freedom in life and opens all doors of success. Knowledge provides the power to speak through the mind, which actually helps people understand the truth.

the most valuable thing is knowledge

Knowledge is the most important tool to bring positive change in the society and country. Knowledge helps to learn things from intelligent people, which has the potential to improve the quality of life. Knowledge is the only thing most precious, which no one can take away from us; It is always with us and if we distribute it among the needy people, it increases even more. It gives new and revolutionary ideas, which change the way we see the world. Hence, we can say that, knowledge is the pillar of success and happiness.

True knowledge saves us from people’s quarrels, wars, corruption and other social issues. We can say that knowledge is that power, which if obtained in the right direction leads to the welfare of human beings and if taken in the wrong direction, it can destroy everything. It can be helpful in bringing countless happiness in our life. Knowledge guides people and opens all avenues for success.

Essay 3 (500 words)

There is a famous saying of a great essay writer, Francis Bacon, that “Knowledge is power”. He has said that in fact knowledge is the source of power. “Knowledge is power” means that real power comes from knowledge and it is here that makes man different from animals. It is a very true thing that human beings are weaker than animals in physical strength, but we are mentally more developed than them and this is possible only because of our knowledge. It is our knowledge that gives us the power to handle almost everything in this world. Even in spite of being physically weaker than other creatures, man is considered to be the coordinator of the earth.

harnessing the power of knowledge

Human beings have a wise mind and it is full of such power, which enables them to manage the ups and downs of life. There are many things that humans cannot do physically like running barefoot, looking far like a vulture, an eagle or an eagle, running fast like a panther, fighting with wild animals, lifting heavy things, far like a dog. To sniff, etc. But still man, using his knowledge, finds solutions to these problems by all kinds of techniques.

Man has the ability to acquire the knowledge preserved in books (from books, research and experiences) and again transfer the same knowledge to his future generations. “Knowledge is that power”, which can control natural forces as well as benefit from them. The use of knowledge depends on man; He can use it in a positive or negative way. The use of knowledge in a positive way provides many benefits to humanity, however, its use in a negative way can destroy the entire planet. Man has the power to use his knowledge wisely to create a better and safer world.

Knowledge is the real power of man

Knowledge is considered as the real power of man. Money and people have also been considered as a power of man. But these are not his real powers. Their original source is knowledge. Wealth is achieved only on the basis of knowledge and on the basis of knowledge, people are made their helpers and allies in the society. Nothing in the world is possible for an ignorant person. Business is done for money, jobs and crafts are supported, art-skills are accomplished. But before their achievement, man has to acquire the knowledge worthy of them.

If he remains ignorant about these remedies, he cannot attain these qualities in any way and as a result he will be completely deprived of wealth. The real thing is that which is everlasting, everything in the world gets destroyed after getting time. Wealth is destroyed, body becomes shabby, companions and allies are left behind. Only knowledge is such an inexhaustible element, which does not leave man’s side at any stage and at any time.

True knowledge serves to protect people from wars, quarrels, corruption and other social issues harmful to humanity. Surely we can say that, knowledge is that power, which if used in the right direction especially for the welfare of the whole humanity, can bring innumerable happiness. Knowledge opens people’s eyes and opens all avenues for success.

Essay 4 (600 words)

Knowledge is the thing that creates the difference between man and animals. Man has a brain and the ability to use it accordingly, that is why man is called the most powerful and intelligent creature on earth by nature. Knowledge helps in improving the personality of the people. It builds self-confidence and teaches to have patience to do difficult tasks in life. We can call knowledge the godmother because it provides the path for all discoveries, inventions and explorations.

knowledge a power

Knowledge is a very powerful factor, which helps us to get name, fame, success, power and position in life easily. We can say that money and physical strength are also important means of power, however, neither of them is as powerful as knowledge. Money and physical strength can neither buy nor steal knowledge. This can only be achieved through constant practice, perseverance and patience. Knowledge is a power, but knowledge does not come from power.

Knowledge is “a state of awareness or understanding derived from experience or study. Knowledge is learning specific information about something. Knowledge is a tool of power for people. No one can beat knowledge in this world. The understanding of the people depends on the knowledge, but it is the knowledge which gives the people the power to live in the society.

search for knowledge

There is no limit to the attainment of knowledge; It can be availed by an individual throughout his life till any age. Acquiring knowledge is a long process of perseverance, patience and regularity. It is like unlimited wealth, which can never end, however, its level can be increased by sharing knowledge among the needy people. A person can acquire some new knowledge by regularly experimenting and experimenting with things.

Every human being is born with the same qualities, mind, and power, however, as he/she grows up, he/she develops different qualities, mind and power. All these differences are due to the difference in the level of knowledge of each individual. For example Newton discovered gravity and there are many famous scientists who made many amazing inventions in their life. All this was possible only because of the power of knowledge.

from knowledge to success

The discoveries of modern technology, done by different countries together or individually, have made those countries economically and militarily much more powerful than other countries and all this has been possible only because of their special knowledge. The secret behind success is the power of knowledge, which bestows name, wealth and fame to a person.

India has also done a lot of work in the fields of science, research, medicine, education etc., but even today, despite continuous efforts in many areas, it is a developing country, which is now more powerful by developing in various fields on the basis of knowledge. The country is constantly striving to become. The progress of man or any country depends on the growth of knowledge in various fields in a positive and constructive manner. The destructive and negative use of knowledge can threaten the existence of life on earth on a large scale.

Knowledge is very important in our life, without it our life will be dark. It paves the way for handling situations, planning, turning plans into action and making impossible things possible. If one has complete knowledge, then he will be the luckiest and richest person in the world, because knowledge can never be stolen or robbed and it keeps on increasing even when it is shared with others. . Which proves that knowledge is one of the most powerful powers in the world.

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Paragraph on Knowledge is Power – Long and Short Paragraphs

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Table of Contents

The phrase ‘ Knowledge is Power ’ generally implies that with knowledge and education the potential of a person increases. The power of knowledge is certainly unmatched. Being well learned and sharing knowledge is widely recognized as the core of increasing one’s influence and gaining respect. One can achieve greatest heights of success in life with the power of knowledge.

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You will find below a number of short and long paragraphs on the proverb, ‘Knowledge is Power’. We hope these Knowledge is Power paragraphs will help students in completing their school assignments. These will also help children to write and read out paragraphs with simple words and small sentences. Students can select any paragraph on Knowledge is Power according to their particular requirement.

Long and Short Paragraphs on Knowledge is Power

Knowledge is power paragraph 100 words.

‘Knowledge is Power, is a very meaningful and important proverb. We would be as good as animals wandering like a nomad if we did not have the power of knowledge. Knowledge is important to gain awareness, information and skills to progress in life.

It empowers us to invent and achieve a lot in life. It is vital for the success and development of humans, communities and nation. There is no limit to gaining knowledge. The more learned a person is the more able he is to deal with situations and problems in life. Knowledge builds our confidence and self esteem and makes us feel more powerful.

Knowledge is Power Paragraph 150 words

‘Knowledge is Power’, is indeed a proverb that is true in every sense. We all know where the power of knowledge can take us. Knowledge helps us in our everyday life to deal with any situation or to solve any problem. No one in life can actually prosper without knowledge. It gives you social power and helps you gain more respect in the society. We humans are the most powerful beings on earth because of the power of knowledge.

Though animals have the strength to harm us we protect ourselves from them not just with physical but mental strength. We not only have the power to protect ourselves but to protect others, to protect our nature and environment too. Knowledge gives us the ability to understand, analyze and act in a certain manner in life. It helps us evolve and grow. Knowledge is important in all the aspects of human life. Therefore, gaining more and more knowledge is gaining more power.

Knowledge is Power Paragraph 200 words

‘Knowledge is Power’ is a well-known fact. Without knowledge it would have been impossible for humans and human civilizations to develop. We live in the modern, urbanized nation where one cannot compete with lack of knowledge. To compete and transform in the changing times it is very important to stay up to dated.

We are in a tech-savvy era where the use of new technology and gadgets is not obligatory but essential. We can only use technology if we are well-informed about how to use it effectively or we might just feel helpless and dependent most of the times. Knowledge is important to progress and achieve success in life.

We gain knowledge not only by reading books but also by practical experience in life. It is more powerful than the physical strength as it gives us the ability to deal effectively with any situation in life. The non violent movement of Mahatma Gandhi is the perfect example of this. The non violent movement was a huge success that led to Indian independence.

Hence, mental ability and knowledge are more powerful than the physical strength. One can achieve anything in life with the power of knowledge. Knowledge is a powerful resource that we can gain and use in abundance and the good news is it won’t get depleted.

Knowledge is Power Paragraph 250 words

Knowledge is information, skills and awareness gained through experience and education. It is the theoretical or practical understanding of the subject under study. Knowledge is important in every aspect of life. We are rarely aware which skill or piece of information we are going to need when. It is vital to stock up a little on a broad range of subjects and gain skills that we know would be useful in future.

Humans are not as strong as tigers or cannot run as fast as horses nor can they fly as birds, yet they are the most powerful species on earth because of knowledge. A tiger is strong physically but contrarily man is more powerful with his mental ability and ideas. Physical strength is important but when we couple it with our mental strength we get a better understanding of how to use it effectively.

Knowledge helps us convert our ideas into action. Humans can domesticate, train and rule animals with their skills as they are superior to them mentally. Knowledge is the real power humans are gifted with that distinguishes them from animals. Humans can gain, learn, understand, analyze, experiment, research, perform, share and multiply their skills and knowledge. The more wisdom they gain the more power, ability and authority they obtain.

Humans have progressed and developed to a great extent with their intelligence. They are blessed with physical as well as intellectual strength. With mental ability it is possible to advance and achieve superiority over the physically strong.

Knowledge is Power Paragraph 300 words

Knowledge is the power of awareness and perceptive gained from experience and education. This means that a person has the capability to gain and criticize information as a well educated individual who can take decisions based on his awareness and insight to deal with day to day situations in life. Knowledge is powerful as it gives him the ability to understand, analyze, evaluate, interpret and act or react effectively. Without wisdom it is not possible to act and execute wisely. Indeed, knowledge is essential to gain power.

Education is Important

Education plays an important role in growth and development of a person. One who is well-informed can perform better in life and increase the chances of success. With knowledge and education one becomes a valuable member of the society who recompenses the society with his wealth of knowledge. Education helps us build our opinion or view point on something and voice it. It develops in us the perception of looking at life. It gives us the freedom to express ourselves.

Positive Use of Knowledge is Vital

Knowledge is power only when it is used for human and environmental welfare. If knowledge is used adversely it can also be damaging to our society and nation. The one who is knowledgeable can have power over the one who doesn’t know much, it can be used to exploit the vulnerable individuals and groups of society. It can give rise to illegal activities and crimes in our nation and across the world. Medical science is being used for criminal purposes like organ transplants. Doctors are considered God in India and they can cure and save lives but if they use their knowledge to assist criminals instead of patients it can be damaging for the society.

Knowledge is the true strength of a person, but it is very important that it is used effectively for the welfare and prosperity of our nation. It gives you the ability to create as well as destroy.

Knowledge is Power Paragraph 350 words

‘Knowledge is Power’ denotes the personal power we acquire through knowledge that we gain from education, experience and social relations. Applying knowledge effectively is power. When we learn new things and get educated we obviously have better understanding and ability to make decisions and act more responsibly. It makes us a more valuable person of the community. It is the powerful element that helps us attain success and better position in life socially and economically.

Knowledge and Success

If we look around there are so many learned people we get influenced by. Our teachers for example strongly impact our mindset and approach towards life. The doctors who have the ability to cure and save someone are highly respected in our society. There are many other professionals who have achieved their position with knowledge and its wise implementation. They contribute to our society and are considered to be esteemed people of our society. Knowledge helps you succeed and gain respect.

In modern times success is not just limited to having knowledge. It is how you use your knowledge effectively to serve others. It is also about marketing your knowledge. Internet is the most successful medium of sharing knowledge with millions. For instance, any professional like a photographer who shares his tutorials on tips and tricks of photography on various social media channels would be more successful compared to the one who would limit using his photography skills for his local clients.

Similarly, a fashion stylist who shares her knowledge on her fashion blog and other social platforms can be more successful than the fashion stylish who just serves her clients. Likewise, a motivational writer also uses social media platform to motivate people. People follow knowledgeable personalities and get inspired through social media. So, nowadays it’s all about sharing and marketing your knowledge to be successful. But again, it is all about having knowledge about how to use social media platform wisely for positive results.

It is beyond comprehension how our world has evolved in past centuries. In today’s fast paced world we look up to people who are highly successful. One can be successful not just by having knowledge about something but also by having information on how to make the most out of that knowledge. To compete in today’s world one has to be multi-talented. Knowledge is the only key to achieve success and power.

Knowledge is Power Paragraph 400 words

‘Knowledge is Power’, is a proverb credited to Sir Francis Bacon. As per Francis Bacon, Knowledge is the power that distinguishes man from animals. It empowers us to operate and control. It helps us to move forward in every aspect of life and achieve what we want. With the help of knowledge, man from living a simple life as nomad has now progressed to live a multifaceted life where science plays important role.

Knowledge and Man’s Progress

Without knowledge we would have still been living a nomadic life. It is knowledge through which we have evolved and developed immensely. In Stone Age, man had no knowledge and was a hapless creature. He was a nomad who depended on nature and wandered around vaguely in search of food and shelter. He rambled in the vincity to protect himself from the predators. Man has unfolded several mysteries of nature with knowledge. He started observing and studying natural phenomenon around him by synchronizing mind and body.

Man’s passion to gain awareness and be familiar with the unknown and uncertain gave him the ability to comprehend the phenomenon around him and gain insight to develop new facts. Man started hunting and making tools to hunt. He also invented fire and learned to use it effectively. The animals he feared from became the resource for him. He observed and understood the natural phenomenon around him and started using nature and its resources for his personal benefit. He started building huts for his habitat and started living a more settled life. More knowledge he gained more he evolved and developed.

Nature was earlier a mystery for man but once he started unfolding the mysteries of nature he has evolved unbelievably. He now dominates nature and its elements. Man’s knowledge is significantly reflected in his growth and power over natural forces. Man has transformed since many decades with his mental ability to learn, understand and utilize knowledge effectively. Humans have the ability to gain knowledge, experiment and research and put things to their best use. Knowledge gives them the power to control nature.

Man’s passion and insight helped him evolve and develop from stone-age to the new tech-savvy age where science and technology predominate.

Knowledge is important for the overall development and well being of a person. The more knowledge one gains the more progress he can make in life. It can give a new vision of life.

Frequently Asked Questions on Knowledge is Power

Who said knowledge is not power.

The exact quote knowledge is not power isn't widely attributed. However, Francis Bacon is famous for saying, Knowledge itself is power.

Which is greater power or knowledge?

Knowledge is often considered greater as it can lead to power. Knowledge equips individuals to make informed decisions and gain influence.

How to improve knowledge?

To improve knowledge, one should read widely, ask questions, engage in discussions, take courses, and stay curious.

Who called knowledge power?

Francis Bacon is credited with the phrase Knowledge is power.

Why knowledge is so important?

Knowledge is important as it empowers individuals to make informed decisions, understand the world, and create positive change.

How knowledge is a power?

Knowledge equips people with insights and understanding, enabling them to influence, make decisions, and contribute to society.

Why is knowledge called power?

Knowledge is called power because it enables individuals to act effectively, make informed decisions, and influence others.

Knowledge is power essay | 5 Different Answers Added (Updated 2023)

Knowledge is power essay answer number 1.

Introduction

“Knowledge is Power” is a quote that has been used for centuries. It emphasizes the importance of knowledge in our lives and shows it is knowledge that’s the only ability one has.

“Knowledge is power” means that the knowledge an individual has gained is the sole true strength he can have. Effective in the way that it can help shape your career, help you succeed, and assist you in overcoming the obstacles that stand in your way. There is nothing else that can help you in the same way that your knowledge can. You plan your future with your knowledge and are able to keep progressing. The knowledge you gain from your studies can help you make money, and earn respect and success in whatever area you work in.

In addition, whatever happens, you will never forget your knowledge and it will be in your memory. All the possessions that are material are gone however, your knowledge remains in your mind.

The Latin interpretation of the phrase “knowledge is power is believed to be the work of Sir Francis Bacon, an English statesman, and philosopher. “Ipsa Scientia est” or “Ipsa Scientia est” appears in Bacon’s Latin works titled “Meditationes Sacrae” (1597). The meaning of the phrase is “knowledge is power” in English.

But the exact phrase “Scientia Potentia Est” was first used to the public for the first time in 1668 in 1668 by Thomas Hobbes, who served as secretary to Bacon. In his 1668 edition of the Leviathan Hobbes used the phrase “Scientia potential is which translates to ‘power is wisdom” in English. It is a well-known fact that wisdom can only be acquired through experience.

Power is knowledge is an important phrase that highlights the importance of knowledge and how it is the only ability a person can have.

K nowledge is power essay Answer Number 2

The expression ‘knowledge is power is often used to explain the importance of knowledge in the world and its value. Knowledge is the only power that anyone can have. It is worth much more than physical strength or other assets.

Value of Knowledge in Real Life

In the real world, understanding is more valuable than anything else. It is an essential ability that allows you to walk through life, and also advance. In real life, knowledge is divided into two categories. The first is the knowledge you gain through your sensory experiences as you get older The other is the knowledge handed to you by your teacher, school, or institution, for example.

The information you gain through watching the people around you aids you to make everyday choices based on logic and knowledge. This is the information that informs you that bees may cause pain or hurt you in the event you make that leap. This is common sense information that you learn when you grow older. The knowledge gained from this type of training is extremely useful in the real world.

Why knowledge is more valuable than Money?

The value of knowledge is higher than that of money since it cannot be purchased using money, but it can be obtained through information in the right way. Additionally, money is a temporary asset and could be lost due to a variety of situations. It is possible to lose a significant amount of money in the payment of medical bills, and other costs. However, if you possess the knowledge and skills, you are able to benefit from them at any time to recover your money as well as things that are material.

Knowledge-Power Relationship

The power of knowledge is the most powerful power that a person can possess. It’s the ability to take control of your life and continue to move in the correct direction. If you don’t have the knowledge, you may possess physical strength, but it is just temporary and can disappear with the passage of the passing of time. However, knowing is your real strength and can help you get through the world. If you are knowledgeable, you will reach any goal you want to achieve to achieve in life. Without knowing, you’d be in a state of confusion and powerlessness about what you should do with your life. The relationship between knowledge and power has a clear relationship. as you learn more and experience, you will gain more power.

Knowledge is the only power that one can gain through the course. In comparison to other abilities, they are useless and have less significance. The power of knowledge is the one that powers your life and can make you successful.

K nowledge is power essay Answer Number 3

“Knowledge is power is a quotation that affirms knowledge as the top quality of a person. It says that the most powerful potential power that a person could possess is the knowledge he has. All other things are only temporary and are attainable by acquiring knowledge in the right method.

Importance of Knowledge in Life

The importance of knowledge is paramount in our lives; in fact, it is the fundamental basis upon which life advances. It is the most crucial quality that a person can have. There are many aspects of life, such as love, money relationships, work, etc. all are dependent on the quality of knowing. They are acquired by acquiring knowledge. The great thing about knowing is that it’s forever – once you’ve obtained it, nothing could erase it. Rest all things i.e. wealth, money, relationships are susceptible to being lost over time, however, knowledge is growing every day and can be utilized to recoup the loss.

Your knowledge is what determines your worth and the level of success you’d be. Friends will admire you; people will appreciate you for having knowledge. If you were not knowledgeable, there could not be any recognition. This is why knowledge is so vital in our lives.

How Knowledge Gives Power?

The relationship between power and knowledge is the most powerful and authentic relation of them all. Let me explain. What is power? Many people associate power with physical strength, but this is an illusion. The true power is in the wisdom you had. Knowing makes you clever and, in turn, stronger than an individual who is physically more powerful than you, yet less well-educated.

The knowledge you gain from you is the ability to control your life and meet your goals in life. Do you think that anything other than money, family, friends, or anything else aids you in reaching your goal? Absolutely no! Only knowledge will help you achieve the things you desire in your life. This is the value of information.

There are also real-world situations where only your experience can aid you, but it’s not the strength of your body. Your physical strength comes with limitations that cannot be used to solve real-world challenges. In this case, you require knowledge and wisdom that only knowledge can provide you.

Knowledge is Power Learning is Superpower

Learning and knowledge are inseparable. If you acquire knowledge, you will also be learning. Learning unlocks your full potential as a human being. It helps you understand your abilities, such as memory ability, grasping strength, etc. And it continuously enhances these abilities.

It’s the power that is within you and requires constant improvement. This is something that can only be achieved in an effort to improve. Once you have learned, you’ll be able to master the subject. For instance, if someone is considered to have a good understanding of Physics this means that he or she is well-versed in all fundamentals that are involved in the field and always willing to tackle any test. However, how have they acquired the knowledge? It’s through constant study of the latest concepts in the field! Doesn’t that sound right? When you learn, you will acquire knowledge. This is the case for any subject matter. If you’re not learning or have only a superficial understanding of something, it isn’t much help.

Superficial or partial knowledge isn’t a good thing and it could be detrimental in certain instances. Part knowledge can affect your ability to perceive the final result. When you’ve mastered enough to be able to attain a complete understanding of something, you are knowledgeable in the real sense. Therefore, it is an adage that “knowledge is power” which is why learning can be a powerful skill.

It is the best thing humans can acquire. Without knowledge, there’s insufficient wisdom, which means there is no progress or growth. Knowledge and education are the two most important prerequisites to growth and prosperity in your life.

K nowledge is power essay Answer Number 4

The knowledge you have is probably the most important aspect of the universe. It could make or break your existence on its own. In addition, it is the knowledge that distinguishes us and other animals. With the right knowledge, people can use their talents and enhance their lives. If you’ve got the knowledge to draw upon you can do much in your daily life. The article on knowledge being power will allow you to learn more about it.

Knowledge is Treasure

There are certain people who are aware of how important information is. Although everyone who is educated may not be smart, however, each and every person with acquired a degree.

It might seem as if it’s a bizarre statement, but it’s actually the truth. If you are armed with a wealth of wisdom, it is possible that you are able to drive a car or fly an aircraft. You can also solve puzzles and solve riddles by using information.

This allows you to tackle the little and big things. If you know what you have, you will be able to prevent yourself from falling in the exact same way. Additionally, you can’t buy knowledge. It is vital to mention that in this essay knowledge is power.

It’s a precious thing that is not available for purchase. You earn it and get it through your perseverance. The real treasure is knowing that will ensure you are a successful individual in life. It can increase your respect and power.

Knowledge is a Bottomless Ocean

The world of knowledge is like a vast sea. The deeper you go into the subject, the more it appears to you. So, there aren’t any boundaries in the universe of knowledge. If you are seeking knowledge then you are hungry for riches you have never seen before.

When you have tasted the sweet nectar of knowledge, it is impossible to resist the urge to learn more. It is only a matter of time before you are compelled to increase your knowledge and acquire more information. A saying states that people will worship the king within his own kingdom, but people will dedicate their worship to a person of wisdom from all over the world.

Also, a person who is knowledgeable is able to find a place wherever in the world. The knowledge ocean allows us to think in a wide way and lets us be brave. Furthermore, our vision gets evident through it.

Furthermore, when you gain an understanding of different things such as science, medicine politics, and much more you are able to contribute to the advancement of humanity. Knowledge is the basis for inventions and discoveries.

In the end, knowledge can help people thrive in life. It also assists to prevent violence and war. It’s responsible for creating peace in the world and helping countries flourish. It is able to open the doors to success and connect people in a way that has never been before.

K nowledge is power essay Answer Number 5

Knowledge is the most important element since it has the power to create and destroy the existence of this planet. Additionally, it can help us distinguish between animals and people. Knowledge can apply your expertise to help others.

Knowledge is power. It’s an axiom that is universally acknowledged that people who have acquired the knowledge of people who have achieved many things throughout their lives. This is true in regards to the power and influence they have on people as well as the many actions and events that happen throughout the world.

The knowledge gained from studying can do a lot of advantages for those who wish to explore it for themselves. It gives them the deep importance of the various designs that they live their lives in the context of the society in which they live and apply. How consciousness has altered the direction of society in recent times is something that must be thoroughly studied, even though there is evidence that suggests this is the same motive.

Bacon’s argument is in complete agreement with the way in which it approaches the idea of consciousness which puts power at the top of success and sustainability. This is because awareness asserts the authority of certain positive aspects that are for the benefit of those who think that the best of one another.

Bacon’s declaration is in line with contemporary society’s guidelines and standards however, society, in general, appreciates people who have a sense of their ranks and can thus build with no problem on the conversational and verbal dictum.

A person with knowledge can be more familiar with the work that is in front of them and also with general processes and systems. This happens across the globe and is more important and more common than the population. This understanding gives one the best and most accurate comprehension of how he should deal with the issues and problems that can arise from time to time.

Importance of Knowledge

There are a few people who comprehend the importance of the data. It’s not that everyone who is educated is smart However, everyone who qualifies has been well-educated. It may sound odd but it’s the truth. Most people in our world are educated, but they lack a grasp of the topic they’ve learned.

Additionally, it helps you to drive a car, take on a bike, or solve an intricate puzzle. It is the only thing that can stop us from falling back into the exact same trap. It’s not something that you would like to buy from yourself, but something you can pay for.

Benefits of Knowledge

Knowledge is something that is able to grow significantly more than the time you share it. It’s the knowledge that keeps your intellectual capital. Similar to that, people utilized their knowledge to develop things that were impossible to imagine a few years ago. This allows us to put our thoughts into action as well as help us attain the satisfaction that we seek in our life.

Additionally, knowing helps determine the wrongs and the right thing to do. It aids us in overcoming our weaknesses, limitations, and even life-threatening situations. The person who has knowledge is much more secure morally or mentally than those who have money, but less experience.

In addition, being a vital instrument for making positive changes in society and in the nation. The knowledge we gain from our experiences gives us the possibility of what we can achieve and what we could do to achieve it. The outcome of knowledge is that every country in the globe has technologically advanced machines and equipment, in addition to various other items. Bombs and weapons may not guarantee a secure country, however, knowledge.

The power of knowledge is in the hands of those who have it, but the power of knowledge is not always trustworthy. It is “a state of mind and understanding acquired through experience or by… studying in-depth details on anything. It is a sign that you have the capacity to gather and evaluate exciting and insightful news in order to become better-informed citizens who are able to quickly make decisions from their experiences and knowledge of the real world.

Do they have the power to be powerful? Is that a question to be brewing in your mind? Power is believed to be the possibility or capacity to behave or perform in a way that is effective. How can this capability be effective, even without knowing? Actually, it isn’t possible. It shows that intelligence is necessary to gain power.

Education is the key to success is among the most frequently heard phrases throughout the life of the college. There is no doubt that every smart person has a prosperous life. Education plays an important part in encouraging the development of an economy in any country.

It’s simple and easy to put this down to the abundance of natural resources and the massive amount of innovative technology when we look at the rise of America during the entire wartime. It is essential to think about the way these breakthroughs were introduced and how they can be utilized to bring about a successful conclusion.

What is more important than what is what makes America the biggest and most powerful nation is the reason it has become the world’s most powerful country on the planet. It wasn’t a matter of chance or the fact that they’d have lots of money. But, by teaching their children or creating them into prosperous people in society that could meet the demands of a modern world, they created the foundations for people.

Perspective of Knowledge

Knowledge is something that could devastate the entire planet However, contrary to that it is a weapon that could bring equilibrium back to the earth. The richest person on the planet is a seasoned person since no one is able to steal his or her knowledge. However, at any time anyone could steal your wealth and power.

It also never decreases the amount of use but is only a slight increase. A knowledgeable person is superior to a wealthy person, as a rich person might give money to the country. However, a knowledgeable person can provide the nation with the right information, and this knowledge could also boost the nation’s prosperity.

In the end, we can consider that knowledge is the key to allowing people to prosper. It also protects people from abuse and war. In addition, knowledge brings peace to the country and prosperity. The most important thing is that knowledge allows everyone to achieve. I hope you’ll enjoy the following Essay regarding Knowledge is Power.

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Copilot Studio

Microsoft Copilot Studio: Building copilots with agent capabilities

Omar Aftab , Vice President, Conversational AI , Tuesday, May 21, 2024

At Microsoft Build 2024 , we’re excited to announce a host of new powerful capabilities in Microsoft Copilot Studio —t he single conversational AI tool you can use to create your very own custom copilots or extend Microsoft C opilot experiences with your own enterprise data and scenarios.

The first of these are c opilots that can now act as independent agents— ones that can be triggered by events— not just conversation— and can automa te and orchestrate complex, long-running business processes with more autonomy and less human intervention.

For instance, consider the potential of a copilot that can react when an email arrives, look up the sender’s details, see their previous communications, and use generative AI to trigger the appropriate chain of actions in their response. From understanding the intent of the email, to look ing up the sender’s details and account , see ing their previous communications, checking inventory, responding to the sender asking for their preferences, and then taking the appropriate actions to close a ticket — orchestrating and shepherding an entire process over days.

With such capabilities, copilots are evolving from those that work with you to those that work for you. They can be designed to handle specific roles or functions, such as IT, marketing, sales, customer success, and finance across various industries, including travel, retail, and financial services.

With these new capabilities, here are some examples of the kinds of copilots our customers can build:

IT help desk . IT support is complex, involving tickets, order numbers, approvals, and stock levels . O pening and closing a ticket can be a long-running task that spans days. A copilot can now handle this process, interfacing with IT service management applications, resolving IT tickets with context and memory, creating purchase orders for device refresh, and reaching out and getting managers approvals — all independently .
Employee onboarding . Onboarding new employees is often expensive and slow. Now, imagine you’re a new hire. A copilot greets you, reasons over HR data, and answers your questions. It introduces you to your buddy, provides training and deadlines, assists with forms, and sets up your first week of meetings. Throughout all of this, the copilot is in touch, guiding you through the weeks -long onboarding and account set up processes.
Personal concierge for sales and service . Balancing exceptional customer experience while meeting ambitious revenue goals can be challenging. When a copilot serves guests, i t can use the memory of previous conversations with guests to remember their preferences, make reservations, handle complaints, and answer questions related to the products and services on offer. The copilot learns from its interactions and proposes new ways of handling customer scenarios. By doing so, copilots can increase upsell and attachment rates, driving revenue for the resort while simultaneously enhancing guest experience, satisfaction rates, and repeat business.

Let’s dig deeper into a few of the underlying capabilities that make all this possible:

Asynchronous orchestration of complex tasks . The first is the ability to use generative AI- powered planning and reasoning to manage complex, multi step, long-running tasks. For example, reacting to a new order means determining the need to verify inventory, trigger ing the right payment processes, pinging a supervisor for approval if the amount is above a certain threshold, and replying with a confirmation. Many of these events can take hours—or even days— to complete, but the copilot will run through them , maintaining the necessary state and context to do so.
Memory and context . One of the frustrating things about support has traditionally been having to repeat information: who you are, what your policy number is, what your address is. There is no continuity of conversation. Copilots will now learn from previous conversations from the users and utilize this knowledge to continually personalize interactions . A copilot may not need to ask you for your laptop model or your address when you call again for the same issue. Conversations will thus become long-running, contextual, and deeply personalized.
Monitor, learn, and improve . Copilots can now learn and adapt, offering monitoring and teaching capabilities to make their interactions better. Each copilot records a comprehensive history of its activities, providing transparency into its performance, including user interactions, actions taken, and feedback received, and you can see what decisions it made — and correct and teach them — with just a few clicks.

Screenshot of the in-product experience for training copilots with agent capabilities in Microsoft Copilot Studio

Delegation with confidence and guardrails . When developing copilots with agent capabilities, establishing clear boundaries is paramount. Copilots operate strictly within the confines of the maker-defined instructions, knowledge, and actions. The data sources linked to the copilot adhere to stringent security measures and controls, managed through the unified admin center of Copilot Studio. This includes data loss prevention, robust authentication protocols, and more.

The se advanced new capabilities in Copilot Studio are currently accessible to customers participating in a limited private preview where organizations such as Centro de la Familia are excited to explore agent capabilities that support teachers and case workers, allowing them to spend less time on administrative tasks and more time working with children, ultimately leading to better child outcomes . Based on feedback from program participants, we will continue to iterate and refine these capabilities for broader access in a preview planned for later this year .

Additional innovations with Copilot Studio

There’s a lot more to share at Microsoft Build with Copilot Studio, and we’ll touch on just a few of our new capabilities here. To learn more — just sign up and try it out for yourself here .

It’s easier than ever to create c opilots . With Copilot Studio, creating and testing copilots is now incredibly simple. You can create your copilot with our brand new conversationally driven experience — simply describe what you want it to do, and what knowledge you want it to have, and Copilot Studio will create your very own c opilot. You can then immediately test it out, add additional capabilities, such as your own actions, APIs, and enterprise knowledge — and then publish it live with a few clicks.

Screenshot of the homepage of Microsoft Copilot Studio

Connect all your enterprise data with Copilot c onnectors . Customers want copilots connected with data from their own enterprises business systems and apps. Copilot connectors enable anyone to ground their copilot in business and collaboration data. This makes it possible for copilots to use various data sources, including public websites, SharePoint, OneDrive, Microsoft Dataverse tables, Microsoft Fabric OneLake (coming this calendar year), Microsoft Graph, as well as leading third-party apps. You can even create your own custom generative prompts to configure how a copilot handles a response from an API or connector.

Screenshot of the available knowledge sources in Microsoft Copilot Studio

Here are a few examples of how Copilot connectors can transform copilot experiences for specific personas or functions:

Legal and Compliance . Navigate complex legal landscapes with a Copilot extension that queries specific legal datasets, ensuring controlled and compliant responses without overwhelming users with extraneous information.
HR Helper . Assist employees with accessing essential resources for benefits and PTO policies, and even book time off directly through Copilot.
Incident Report Coordinator . Workers can locate the right documentation, report incidents, and track them efficiently, all within the context of the chat.

Starting in June 2024, developers can access the preview for Copilot connectors and stay informed on updates here .

Conversational analytics (private preview) : One of the most common asks from customers has been the need for deeper insight into what their copilot is doing, how generative AI is responding, when it was unable to give the right answers and why — and recommendations on what to do to improve it.

Screenshot of the conversational analytics experience in Microsoft Copilot Studio

Templates : If simply describing your copilot to build it wasn’t easy enough, Copilot Studio will now also include a variety of pre-built copilot samples for departments and industries. Some templates — such as Safe Travels for comprehensive travel support, Organization Navigator for organizational clarity, Kudos Copilot for fostering recognition, Wellness for employee health insights — are available now, with many more releasing in the coming months.

Enhanced security and controls (public preview ) : Administrators can now configure advanced settings beyond the default security measures and controls. With Microsoft Purview , Copilot Studio administrators gain access to more detailed governance tools, including audit logs, inventory capabilities, and sensitivity labels. They will be able to review comprehensive audit logs that cover tenant-wide usage, inventory (with API support), and tenant hygiene (such as data loss prevention violations and inactive copilots), enabling them to effectively monitor business impact. Both creators and end-users will be able to view sensitivity labels when responses are generated using AI-powered answers based on SharePoint documents.

With all the amazing innovations, numerous organizations are using Copilot Studio to build transformative generative AI-powered solutions. Check out this story from Nsure on how they are using Copilot Studio:

Get started today with Copilot Studio

This is just a glimpse of all the exciting innovation around copilots and Copilot Studio — we have a host of exciting new capabilities to share in our sessions at Build. So, join us in watching the sessions below, and try out Copilot Studio yourself and build and share your very own copilot in minutes.

Watch the sessions at Microsoft Build:

“ Microsoft Build opening keynote ”
“ Next generation AI for developers with the Microsoft Cloud ”
“ Shaping next-gen development: the future of Copilot in Power Platform ”

Deeper dives:

Breakout: “ What’s new with Microsoft Copilot Studio ”
Breakout with demos: “ Build your own copilot with Microsoft Copilot Studio ”
Breakout with demos: “ Build Microsoft Copilot extensions with Copilot Studio ”
Demo (live only): “ Build your own Copilot extension with Microsoft Copilot Studio ”

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

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Why the Future Doesn't Need Us

From the moment I became involved in the creation of new technologies, their ethical dimensions have concerned me, but it was only in the autumn of 1998 that I became anxiously aware of how great are the dangers facing us in the 21st century. I can date the onset of my unease to the day I met Ray Kurzweil , the deservedly famous inventor of the first reading machine for the blind and many other amazing things.

Ray and I were both speakers at George Gilder 's Telecosm conference, and I encountered him by chance in the bar of the hotel after both our sessions were over. I was sitting with John Searle, a Berkeley philosopher who studies consciousness. While we were talking, Ray approached and a conversation began, the subject of which haunts me to this day.

I had missed Ray's talk and the subsequent panel that Ray and John had been on, and they now picked right up where they'd left off, with Ray saying that the rate of improvement of technology was going to accelerate and that we were going to become robots or fuse with robots or something like that, and John countering that this couldn't happen, because the robots couldn't be conscious .

While I had heard such talk before, I had always felt sentient robots were in the realm of science fiction. But now, from someone I respected, I was hearing a strong argument that they were a near-term possibility. I was taken aback, especially given Ray's proven ability to imagine and create the future. I already knew that new technologies like genetic engineering and nanotechnology were giving us the power to remake the world, but a realistic and imminent scenario for intelligent robots surprised me.

It's easy to get jaded about such breakthroughs. We hear in the news almost every day of some kind of technological or scientific advance. Yet this was no ordinary prediction. In the hotel bar, Ray gave me a partial preprint of his then-forthcoming book The Age of Spiritual Machines , which outlined a utopia he foresaw—one in which humans gained near immortality by becoming one with robotic technology. On reading it, my sense of unease only intensified; I felt sure he had to be understating the dangers, understating the probability of a bad outcome along this path.

I found myself most troubled by a passage detailing a dystopian scenario:

First let us postulate that the computer scientists succeed in developing intelligent machines that can do all things better than human beings can do them. In that case presumably all work will be done by vast, highly organized systems of machines and no human effort will be necessary. Either of two cases might occur. The machines might be permitted to make all of their own decisions without human oversight, or else human control over the machines might be retained.

If the machines are permitted to make all their own decisions, we can't make any conjectures as to the results, because it is impossible to guess how such machines might behave. We only point out that the fate of the human race would be at the mercy of the machines. It might be argued that the human race would never be foolish enough to hand over all the power to the machines. But we are suggesting neither that the human race would voluntarily turn power over to the machines nor that the machines would willfully seize power. What we do suggest is that the human race might easily permit itself to drift into a position of such dependence on the machines that it would have no practical choice but to accept all of the machines' decisions. As society and the problems that face it become more and more complex and machines become more and more intelligent, people will let machines make more of their decisions for them, simply because machine-made decisions will bring better results than man-made ones. Eventually a stage may be reached at which the decisions necessary to keep the system running will be so complex that human beings will be incapable of making them intelligently. At that stage the machines will be in effective control. People won't be able to just turn the machines off, because they will be so dependent on them that turning them off would amount to suicide.

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On the other hand it is possible that human control over the machines may be retained. In that case the average man may have control over certain private machines of his own, such as his car or his personal computer, but control over large systems of machines will be in the hands of a tiny elite—just as it is today, but with two differences. Due to improved techniques the elite will have greater control over the masses; and because human work will no longer be necessary the masses will be superfluous, a useless burden on the system. If the elite is ruthless they may simply decide to exterminate the mass of humanity. If they are humane they may use propaganda or other psychological or biological techniques to reduce the birth rate until the mass of humanity becomes extinct, leaving the world to the elite. Or, if the elite consists of soft-hearted liberals, they may decide to play the role of good shepherds to the rest of the human race. They will see to it that everyone's physical needs are satisfied, that all children are raised under psychologically hygienic conditions, that everyone has a wholesome hobby to keep him busy, and that anyone who may become dissatisfied undergoes “treatment” to cure his “problem.” Of course, life will be so purposeless that people will have to be biologically or psychologically engineered either to remove their need for the power process or make them “sublimate” their drive for power into some harmless hobby. These engineered human beings may be happy in such a society, but they will most certainly not be free. They will have been reduced to the status of domestic animals. 1

In the book, you don't discover until you turn the page that the author of this passage is Theodore Kaczynski—the Unabomber. I am no apologist for Kaczynski. His bombs killed three people during a 17-year terror campaign and wounded many others. One of his bombs gravely injured my friend David Gelernter, one of the most brilliant and visionary computer scientists of our time. Like many of my colleagues, I felt that I could easily have been the Unabomber's next target.

Kaczynski's actions were murderous and, in my view, criminally insane. He is clearly a Luddite, but simply saying this does not dismiss his argument; as difficult as it is for me to acknowledge, I saw some merit in the reasoning in this single passage. I felt compelled to confront it.

Kaczynski's dystopian vision describes unintended consequences, a well-known problem with the design and use of technology, and one that is clearly related to Murphy's law—“Anything that can go wrong, will.” (Actually, this is Finagle's law, which in itself shows that Finagle was right.) Our overuse of antibiotics has led to what may be the biggest such problem so far: the emergence of antibiotic-resistant and much more dangerous bacteria. Similar things happened when attempts to eliminate malarial mosquitoes using DDT caused them to acquire DDT resistance; malarial parasites likewise acquired multi-drug-resistant genes. 2

The cause of many such surprises seems clear: The systems involved are complex, involving interaction among and feedback between many parts. Any changes to such a system will cascade in ways that are difficult to predict; this is especially true when human actions are involved.

I started showing friends the Kaczynski quote from The Age of Spiritual Machines ; I would hand them Kurzweil's book, let them read the quote, and then watch their reaction as they discovered who had written it. At around the same time, I found Hans Moravec's book Robot: Mere Machine to Transcendent Mind . Moravec is one of the leaders in robotics research, and was a founder of the world's largest robotics research program, at Carnegie Mellon University. Robot gave me more material to try out on my friends—material surprisingly supportive of Kaczynski's argument. For example:

Biological species almost never survive encounters with superior competitors. Ten million years ago, South and North America were separated by a sunken Panama isthmus. South America, like Australia today, was populated by marsupial mammals, including pouched equivalents of rats, deers, and tigers. When the isthmus connecting North and South America rose, it took only a few thousand years for the northern placental species, with slightly more effective metabolisms and reproductive and nervous systems, to displace and eliminate almost all the southern marsupials.

In a completely free marketplace, superior robots would surely affect humans as North American placentals affected South American marsupials (and as humans have affected countless species). Robotic industries would compete vigorously among themselves for matter, energy, and space, incidentally driving their price beyond human reach. Unable to afford the necessities of life, biological humans would be squeezed out of existence.

There is probably some breathing room, because we do not live in a completely free marketplace. Government coerces nonmarket behavior, especially by collecting taxes. Judiciously applied, governmental coercion could support human populations in high style on the fruits of robot labor, perhaps for a long while.

A textbook dystopia—and Moravec is just getting wound up. He goes on to discuss how our main job in the 21st century will be “ensuring continued cooperation from the robot industries” by passing laws decreeing that they be “nice,” and to describe how seriously dangerous a human can be “once transformed into an unbounded superintelligent robot.” 3 Moravec's view is that the robots will eventually succeed us—that humans clearly face extinction.

I decided it was time to talk to my friend Danny Hillis. Danny became famous as the cofounder of Thinking Machines Corporation, which built a very powerful parallel supercomputer. Despite my current job title of Chief Scientist at Sun Microsystems, I am more a computer architect than a scientist, and I respect Danny's knowledge of the information and physical sciences more than that of any other single person I know. Danny is also a highly regarded futurist who thinks long-term—four years ago he started the Long Now Foundation, which is building a clock designed to last 10,000 years, in an attempt to draw attention to the pitifully short attention span of our society. (See “ Test of Time ,” Wired 8.03.)

So I flew to Los Angeles for the express purpose of having dinner with Danny and his wife, Pati. I went through my now-familiar routine, trotting out the ideas and passages that I found so disturbing. Danny's answer—directed specifically at Kurzweil's scenario of humans merging with robots—came swiftly, and quite surprised me. He said, simply, that the changes would come gradually, and that we would get used to them.

But I guess I wasn't totally surprised. I had seen a quote from Danny in Kurzweil's book in which he said, “I'm as fond of my body as anyone, but if I can be 200 with a body of silicon, I'll take it.” It seemed that he was at peace with this process and its attendant risks, while I was not.

While talking and thinking about Kurzweil, Kaczynski, and Moravec, I suddenly remembered a novel I had read almost 20 years ago - The White Plague , by Frank Herbert—in which a molecular biologist is driven insane by the senseless murder of his family. To seek revenge he constructs and disseminates a new and highly contagious plague that kills widely but selectively. (We're lucky Kaczynski was a mathematician, not a molecular biologist.) I was also reminded of the Borg of Star Trek , a hive of partly biological, partly robotic creatures with a strong destructive streak. Borg-like disasters are a staple of science fiction, so why hadn't I been more concerned about such robotic dystopias earlier? Why weren't other people more concerned about these nightmarish scenarios?

Part of the answer certainly lies in our attitude toward the new—in our bias toward instant familiarity and unquestioning acceptance. Accustomed to living with almost routine scientific breakthroughs, we have yet to come to terms with the fact that the most compelling 21st-century technologies—robotics, genetic engineering, and nanotechnology—pose a different threat than the technologies that have come before. Specifically, robots, engineered organisms, and nanobots share a dangerous amplifying factor: They can self-replicate. A bomb is blown up only once—but one bot can become many, and quickly get out of control.

Much of my work over the past 25 years has been on computer networking, where the sending and receiving of messages creates the opportunity for out-of-control replication. But while replication in a computer or a computer network can be a nuisance, at worst it disables a machine or takes down a network or network service. Uncontrolled self-replication in these newer technologies runs a much greater risk: a risk of substantial damage in the physical world.

Each of these technologies also offers untold promise: The vision of near immortality that Kurzweil sees in his robot dreams drives us forward; genetic engineering may soon provide treatments, if not outright cures, for most diseases; and nanotechnology and nanomedicine can address yet more ills. Together they could significantly extend our average life span and improve the quality of our lives. Yet, with each of these technologies, a sequence of small, individually sensible advances leads to an accumulation of great power and, concomitantly, great danger.

What was different in the 20th century? Certainly, the technologies underlying the weapons of mass destruction (WMD)—nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC)—were powerful, and the weapons an enormous threat. But building nuclear weapons required, at least for a time, access to both rare—indeed, effectively unavailable—raw materials and highly protected information; biological and chemical weapons programs also tended to require large-scale activities.

The 21st-century technologies—genetics, nanotechnology, and robotics (GNR)—are so powerful that they can spawn whole new classes of accidents and abuses. Most dangerously, for the first time, these accidents and abuses are widely within the reach of individuals or small groups. They will not require large facilities or rare raw materials. Knowledge alone will enable the use of them.

Thus we have the possibility not just of weapons of mass destruction but of knowledge-enabled mass destruction (KMD), this destructiveness hugely amplified by the power of self-replication.

I think it is no exaggeration to say we are on the cusp of the further perfection of extreme evil, an evil whose possibility spreads well beyond that which weapons of mass destruction bequeathed to the nation-states, on to a surprising and terrible empowerment of extreme individuals.

Nothing about the way I got involved with computers suggested to me that I was going to be facing these kinds of issues.

My life has been driven by a deep need to ask questions and find answers. When I was 3, I was already reading, so my father took me to the elementary school, where I sat on the principal's lap and read him a story. I started school early, later skipped a grade, and escaped into books—I was incredibly motivated to learn. I asked lots of questions, often driving adults to distraction.

As a teenager I was very interested in science and technology. I wanted to be a ham radio operator but didn't have the money to buy the equipment. Ham radio was the Internet of its time: very addictive, and quite solitary. Money issues aside, my mother put her foot down—I was not to be a ham; I was antisocial enough already.

I may not have had many close friends, but I was awash in ideas. By high school, I had discovered the great science fiction writers. I remember especially Heinlein's Have Spacesuit Will Travel and Asimov’s I, Robot , with its Three Laws of Robotics. I was enchanted by the descriptions of space travel, and wanted to have a telescope to look at the stars; since I had no money to buy or make one, I checked books on telescope-making out of the library and read about making them instead. I soared in my imagination.

Thursday nights my parents went bowling, and we kids stayed home alone. It was the night of Gene Roddenberry's original Star Trek , and the program made a big impression on me. I came to accept its notion that humans had a future in space, Western-style, with big heroes and adventures. Roddenberry's vision of the centuries to come was one with strong moral values, embodied in codes like the Prime Directive: to not interfere in the development of less technologically advanced civilizations. This had an incredible appeal to me; ethical humans, not robots, dominated this future, and I took Roddenberry's dream as part of my own.

I excelled in mathematics in high school, and when I went to the University of Michigan as an undergraduate engineering student I took the advanced curriculum of the mathematics majors. Solving math problems was an exciting challenge, but when I discovered computers I found something much more interesting: a machine into which you could put a program that attempted to solve a problem, after which the machine quickly checked the solution. The computer had a clear notion of correct and incorrect, true and false. Were my ideas correct? The machine could tell me. This was very seductive.

I was lucky enough to get a job programming early supercomputers and discovered the amazing power of large machines to numerically simulate advanced designs. When I went to graduate school at UC Berkeley in the mid-1970s, I started staying up late, often all night, inventing new worlds inside the machines. Solving problems. Writing the code that argued so strongly to be written.

In The Agony and the Ecstasy , Irving Stone's biographical novel of Michelangelo, Stone described vividly how Michelangelo released the statues from the stone, “breaking the marble spell,” carving from the images in his mind. 4 In my most ecstatic moments, the software in the computer emerged in the same way. Once I had imagined it in my mind I felt that it was already there in the machine, waiting to be released. Staying up all night seemed a small price to pay to free it—to give the ideas concrete form.

After a few years at Berkeley I started to send out some of the software I had written—an instructional Pascal system, Unix utilities, and a text editor called vi (which is still, to my surprise, widely used more than 20 years later)—to others who had similar small PDP-11 and VAX minicomputers. These adventures in software eventually turned into the Berkeley version of the Unix operating system, which became a personal “success disaster”—so many people wanted it that I never finished my PhD. Instead I got a job working for Darpa putting Berkeley Unix on the Internet and fixing it to be reliable and to run large research applications well. This was all great fun and very rewarding. And, frankly, I saw no robots here, or anywhere near.

Still, by the early 1980s, I was drowning. The Unix releases were very successful, and my little project of one soon had money and some staff, but the problem at Berkeley was always office space rather than money—there wasn't room for the help the project needed, so when the other founders of Sun Microsystems showed up I jumped at the chance to join them. At Sun, the long hours continued into the early days of workstations and personal computers, and I have enjoyed participating in the creation of advanced microprocessor technologies and Internet technologies such as Java and Jini.

From all this, I trust it is clear that I am not a Luddite. I have always, rather, had a strong belief in the value of the scientific search for truth and in the ability of great engineering to bring material progress. The Industrial Revolution has immeasurably improved everyone's life over the last couple hundred years, and I always expected my career to involve the building of worthwhile solutions to real problems, one problem at a time.

I have not been disappointed. My work has had more impact than I had ever hoped for and has been more widely used than I could have reasonably expected. I have spent the last 20 years still trying to figure out how to make computers as reliable as I want them to be (they are not nearly there yet) and how to make them simple to use (a goal that has met with even less relative success). Despite some progress, the problems that remain seem even more daunting.

But while I was aware of the moral dilemmas surrounding technology's consequences in fields like weapons research, I did not expect that I would confront such issues in my own field, or at least not so soon.

Perhaps it is always hard to see the bigger impact while you are in the vortex of a change. Failing to understand the consequences of our inventions while we are in the rapture of discovery and innovation seems to be a common fault of scientists and technologists; we have long been driven by the overarching desire to know that is the nature of science's quest, not stopping to notice that the progress to newer and more powerful technologies can take on a life of its own.

I have long realized that the big advances in information technology come not from the work of computer scientists, computer architects, or electrical engineers, but from that of physical scientists. The physicists Stephen Wolfram and Brosl Hasslacher introduced me, in the early 1980s, to chaos theory and nonlinear systems. In the 1990s, I learned about complex systems from conversations with Danny Hillis, the biologist Stuart Kauffman, the Nobel-laureate physicist Murray Gell-Mann, and others. Most recently, Hasslacher and the electrical engineer and device physicist Mark Reed have been giving me insight into the incredible possibilities of molecular electronics.

In my own work, as codesigner of three microprocessor architectures—SPARC, picoJava, and MAJC—and as the designer of several implementations thereof, I've been afforded a deep and firsthand acquaintance with Moore's law. For decades, Moore's law has correctly predicted the exponential rate of improvement of semiconductor technology. Until last year I believed that the rate of advances predicted by Moore's law might continue only until roughly 2010, when some physical limits would begin to be reached. It was not obvious to me that a new technology would arrive in time to keep performance advancing smoothly.

But because of the recent rapid and radical progress in molecular electronics—where individual atoms and molecules replace lithographically drawn transistors—and related nanoscale technologies, we should be able to meet or exceed the Moore's law rate of progress for another 30 years. By 2030, we are likely to be able to build machines, in quantity, a million times as powerful as the personal computers of today—sufficient to implement the dreams of Kurzweil and Moravec.

As this enormous computing power is combined with the manipulative advances of the physical sciences and the new, deep understandings in genetics, enormous transformative power is being unleashed. These combinations open up the opportunity to completely redesign the world, for better or worse: The replicating and evolving processes that have been confined to the natural world are about to become realms of human endeavor.

In designing software and microprocessors, I have never had the feeling that I was designing an intelligent machine. The software and hardware is so fragile and the capabilities of the machine to “think” so clearly absent that, even as a possibility, this has always seemed very far in the future.

But now, with the prospect of human-level computing power in about 30 years, a new idea suggests itself: that I may be working to create tools which will enable the construction of the technology that may replace our species. How do I feel about this? Very uncomfortable. Having struggled my entire career to build reliable software systems, it seems to me more than likely that this future will not work out as well as some people may imagine. My personal experience suggests we tend to overestimate our design abilities.

Given the incredible power of these new technologies, shouldn't we be asking how we can best coexist with them? And if our own extinction is a likely, or even possible, outcome of our technological development, shouldn't we proceed with great caution?

The dream of robotics is, first, that intelligent machines can do our work for us, allowing us lives of leisure, restoring us to Eden. Yet in his history of such ideas, Darwin Among the Machines , George Dyson warns: “In the game of life and evolution there are three players at the table: human beings, nature, and machines. I am firmly on the side of nature. But nature, I suspect, is on the side of the machines.” As we have seen, Moravec agrees, believing we may well not survive the encounter with the superior robot species.

How soon could such an intelligent robot be built? The coming advances in computing power seem to make it possible by 2030. And once an intelligent robot exists, it is only a small step to a robot species—to an intelligent robot that can make evolved copies of itself.

A second dream of robotics is that we will gradually replace ourselves with our robotic technology, achieving near immortality by downloading our consciousnesses; it is this process that Danny Hillis thinks we will gradually get used to and that Ray Kurzweil elegantly details in The Age of Spiritual Machines . (We are beginning to see intimations of this in the implantation of computer devices into the human body, as illustrated on the cover of Wired 8.02.)

But if we are downloaded into our technology, what are the chances that we will thereafter be ourselves or even human? It seems to me far more likely that a robotic existence would not be like a human one in any sense that we understand, that the robots would in no sense be our children, that on this path our humanity may well be lost.

Genetic engineering promises to revolutionize agriculture by increasing crop yields while reducing the use of pesticides; to create tens of thousands of novel species of bacteria, plants, viruses, and animals; to replace reproduction, or supplement it, with cloning; to create cures for many diseases, increasing our life span and our quality of life; and much, much more. We now know with certainty that these profound changes in the biological sciences are imminent and will challenge all our notions of what life is.

Technologies such as human cloning have in particular raised our awareness of the profound ethical and moral issues we face. If, for example, we were to reengineer ourselves into several separate and unequal species using the power of genetic engineering, then we would threaten the notion of equality that is the very cornerstone of our democracy.

Given the incredible power of genetic engineering, it's no surprise that there are significant safety issues in its use. My friend Amory Lovins recently cowrote, along with Hunter Lovins, an editorial that provides an ecological view of some of these dangers. Among their concerns: that “the new botany aligns the development of plants with their economic, not evolutionary, success.” (See “ A Tale of Two Botanies ”) Amory's long career has been focused on energy and resource efficiency by taking a whole-system view of human-made systems; such a whole-system view often finds simple, smart solutions to otherwise seemingly difficult problems, and is usefully applied here as well.

After reading the Lovins' editorial, I saw an op-ed by Gregg Easterbrook in The New York Times (November 19, 1999) about genetically engineered crops, under the headline: “Food for the Future: Someday, rice will have built-in vitamin A. Unless the Luddites win.”

Are Amory and Hunter Lovins Luddites? Certainly not. I believe we all would agree that golden rice, with its built-in vitamin A, is probably a good thing, if developed with proper care and respect for the likely dangers in moving genes across species boundaries.

Awareness of the dangers inherent in genetic engineering is beginning to grow, as reflected in the Lovins’ editorial. The general public is aware of, and uneasy about, genetically modified foods, and seems to be rejecting the notion that such foods should be permitted to be unlabeled.

But genetic engineering technology is already very far along. As the Lovins note, the USDA has already approved about 50 genetically engineered crops for unlimited release; more than half of the world's soybeans and a third of its corn now contain genes spliced in from other forms of life.

While there are many important issues here, my own major concern with genetic engineering is narrower: that it gives the power—whether militarily, accidentally, or in a deliberate terrorist act—to create a White Plague.

The many wonders of nanotechnology were first imagined by the Nobel-laureate physicist Richard Feynman in a speech he gave in 1959, subsequently published under the title “There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom.” The book that made a big impression on me, in the mid-‘80s, was Eric Drexler's Engines of Creation , in which he described beautifully how manipulation of matter at the atomic level could create a utopian future of abundance, where just about everything could be made cheaply, and almost any imaginable disease or physical problem could be solved using nanotechnology and artificial intelligences.

A subsequent book, Unbounding the Future: The Nanotechnology Revolution , which Drexler cowrote, imagines some of the changes that might take place in a world where we had molecular-level “assemblers.” Assemblers could make possible incredibly low-cost solar power, cures for cancer and the common cold by augmentation of the human immune system, essentially complete cleanup of the environment, incredibly inexpensive pocket supercomputers—in fact, any product would be manufacturable by assemblers at a cost no greater than that of wood—spaceflight more accessible than transoceanic travel today, and restoration of extinct species.

I remember feeling good about nanotechnology after reading Engines of Creation . As a technologist, it gave me a sense of calm—that is, nanotechnology showed us that incredible progress was possible, and indeed perhaps inevitable. If nanotechnology was our future, then I didn't feel pressed to solve so many problems in the present. I would get to Drexler's utopian future in due time; I might as well enjoy life more in the here and now. It didn't make sense, given his vision, to stay up all night, all the time.

Drexler's vision also led to a lot of good fun. I would occasionally get to describe the wonders of nanotechnology to others who had not heard of it. After teasing them with all the things Drexler described I would give a homework assignment of my own: “Use nanotechnology to create a vampire; for extra credit create an antidote.”

With these wonders came clear dangers, of which I was acutely aware. As I said at a nanotechnology conference in 1989, “We can't simply do our science and not worry about these ethical issues.” 5 But my subsequent conversations with physicists convinced me that nanotechnology might not even work—or, at least, it wouldn't work anytime soon. Shortly thereafter I moved to Colorado, to a skunk works I had set up, and the focus of my work shifted to software for the Internet, specifically on ideas that became Java and Jini.

Then, last summer, Brosl Hasslacher told me that nanoscale molecular electronics was now practical. This was new news, at least to me, and I think to many people—and it radically changed my opinion about nanotechnology. It sent me back to Engines of Creation . Rereading Drexler's work after more than 10 years, I was dismayed to realize how little I had remembered of its lengthy section called “Dangers and Hopes,” including a discussion of how nanotechnologies can become “engines of destruction.” Indeed, in my rereading of this cautionary material today, I am struck by how naive some of Drexler's safeguard proposals seem, and how much greater I judge the dangers to be now than even he seemed to then. (Having anticipated and described many technical and political problems with nanotechnology, Drexler started the Foresight Institute in the late 1980s “to help prepare society for anticipated advanced technologies”—most important, nanotechnology.)

The enabling breakthrough to assemblers seems quite likely within the next 20 years. Molecular electronics—the new subfield of nanotechnology where individual molecules are circuit elements—should mature quickly and become enormously lucrative within this decade, causing a large incremental investment in all nanotechnologies.

Unfortunately, as with nuclear technology, it is far easier to create destructive uses for nanotechnology than constructive ones. Nanotechnology has clear military and terrorist uses, and you need not be suicidal to release a massively destructive nanotechnological device—such devices can be built to be selectively destructive, affecting, for example, only a certain geographical area or a group of people who are genetically distinct.

An immediate consequence of the Faustian bargain in obtaining the great power of nanotechnology is that we run a grave risk—the risk that we might destroy the biosphere on which all life depends.

As Drexler explained:

“Plants” with “leaves” no more efficient than today's solar cells could out-compete real plants, crowding the biosphere with an inedible foliage. Tough omnivorous "bacteria" could out-compete real bacteria: They could spread like blowing pollen, replicate swiftly, and reduce the biosphere to dust in a matter of days. Dangerous replicators could easily be too tough, small, and rapidly spreading to stop—at least if we make no preparation. We have trouble enough controlling viruses and fruit flies.

Among the cognoscenti of nanotechnology, this threat has become known as the “gray goo problem.” Though masses of uncontrolled replicators need not be gray or gooey, the term “gray goo” emphasizes that replicators able to obliterate life might be less inspiring than a single species of crabgrass. They might be superior in an evolutionary sense, but this need not make them valuable.

The gray goo threat makes one thing perfectly clear: We cannot afford certain kinds of accidents with replicating assemblers.

Gray goo would surely be a depressing ending to our human adventure on Earth, far worse than mere fire or ice, and one that could stem from a simple laboratory accident. 6 Oops.

It is most of all the power of destructive self-replication in genetics, nanotechnology, and robotics (GNR) that should give us pause. Self-replication is the modus operandi of genetic engineering, which uses the machinery of the cell to replicate its designs, and the prime danger underlying gray goo in nanotechnology. Stories of run-amok robots like the Borg, replicating or mutating to escape from the ethical constraints imposed on them by their creators, are well established in our science fiction books and movies. It is even possible that self-replication may be more fundamental than we thought, and hence harder—or even impossible—to control. A recent article by Stuart Kauffman in Nature titled “Self-Replication: Even Peptides Do It” discusses the discovery that a 32-amino-acid peptide can “autocatalyse its own synthesis.” We don't know how widespread this ability is, but Kauffman notes that it may hint at “a route to self-reproducing molecular systems on a basis far wider than Watson-Crick base-pairing.” 7

In truth, we have had in hand for years clear warnings of the dangers inherent in widespread knowledge of GNR technologies—of the possibility of knowledge alone enabling mass destruction. But these warnings haven't been widely publicized; the public discussions have been clearly inadequate. There is no profit in publicizing the dangers.

The nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) technologies used in 20th-century weapons of mass destruction were and are largely military, developed in government laboratories. In sharp contrast, the 21st-century GNR technologies have clear commercial uses and are being developed almost exclusively by corporate enterprises. In this age of triumphant commercialism, technology—with science as its handmaiden—is delivering a series of almost magical inventions that are the most phenomenally lucrative ever seen. We are aggressively pursuing the promises of these new technologies within the now-unchallenged system of global capitalism and its manifold financial incentives and competitive pressures.

This is the first moment in the history of our planet when any species, by its own voluntary actions, has become a danger to itself—as well as to vast numbers of others.

It might be a familiar progression, transpiring on many worlds—a planet, newly formed, placidly revolves around its star; life slowly forms; a kaleidoscopic procession of creatures evolves; intelligence emerges which, at least up to a point, confers enormous survival value; and then technology is invented. It dawns on them that there are such things as laws of Nature, that these laws can be revealed by experiment, and that knowledge of these laws can be made both to save and to take lives, both on unprecedented scales. Science, they recognize, grants immense powers. In a flash, they create world-altering contrivances. Some planetary civilizations see their way through, place limits on what may and what must not be done, and safely pass through the time of perils. Others, not so lucky or so prudent, perish.

That is Carl Sagan, writing in 1994, in Pale Blue Dot , a book describing his vision of the human future in space. I am only now realizing how deep his insight was, and how sorely I miss, and will miss, his voice. For all its eloquence, Sagan's contribution was not least that of simple common sense—an attribute that, along with humility, many of the leading advocates of the 21st-century technologies seem to lack.

I remember from my childhood that my grandmother was strongly against the overuse of antibiotics. She had worked since before the first World War as a nurse and had a commonsense attitude that taking antibiotics, unless they were absolutely necessary, was bad for you.

It is not that she was an enemy of progress. She saw much progress in an almost 70-year nursing career; my grandfather, a diabetic, benefited greatly from the improved treatments that became available in his lifetime. But she, like many levelheaded people, would probably think it greatly arrogant for us, now, to be designing a robotic “replacement species,” when we obviously have so much trouble making relatively simple things work, and so much trouble managing—or even understanding—ourselves.

I realize now that she had an awareness of the nature of the order of life, and of the necessity of living with and respecting that order. With this respect comes a necessary humility that we, with our early-21st-century chutzpah, lack at our peril. The commonsense view, grounded in this respect, is often right, in advance of the scientific evidence. The clear fragility and inefficiencies of the human-made systems we have built should give us all pause; the fragility of the systems I have worked on certainly humbles me.

We should have learned a lesson from the making of the first atomic bomb and the resulting arms race. We didn't do well then, and the parallels to our current situation are troubling.

The effort to build the first atomic bomb was led by the brilliant physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer was not naturally interested in politics but became painfully aware of what he perceived as the grave threat to Western civilization from the Third Reich, a threat surely grave because of the possibility that Hitler might obtain nuclear weapons. Energized by this concern, he brought his strong intellect, passion for physics, and charismatic leadership skills to Los Alamos and led a rapid and successful effort by an incredible collection of great minds to quickly invent the bomb.

What is striking is how this effort continued so naturally after the initial impetus was removed. In a meeting shortly after V-E Day with some physicists who felt that perhaps the effort should stop, Oppenheimer argued to continue. His stated reason seems a bit strange: not because of the fear of large casualties from an invasion of Japan, but because the United Nations, which was soon to be formed, should have foreknowledge of atomic weapons. A more likely reason the project continued is the momentum that had built up—the first atomic test, Trinity, was nearly at hand.

We know that in preparing this first atomic test the physicists proceeded despite a large number of possible dangers. They were initially worried, based on a calculation by Edward Teller, that an atomic explosion might set fire to the atmosphere. A revised calculation reduced the danger of destroying the world to a three-in-a-million chance. (Teller says he was later able to dismiss the prospect of atmospheric ignition entirely.) Oppenheimer, though, was sufficiently concerned about the result of Trinity that he arranged for a possible evacuation of the southwest part of the state of New Mexico. And, of course, there was the clear danger of starting a nuclear arms race.

Within a month of that first, successful test, two atomic bombs destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Some scientists had suggested that the bomb simply be demonstrated, rather than dropped on Japanese cities—saying that this would greatly improve the chances for arms control after the war—but to no avail. With the tragedy of Pearl Harbor still fresh in Americans' minds, it would have been very difficult for President Truman to order a demonstration of the weapons rather than use them as he did—the desire to quickly end the war and save the lives that would have been lost in any invasion of Japan was very strong. Yet the overriding truth was probably very simple: As the physicist Freeman Dyson later said, “The reason that it was dropped was just that nobody had the courage or the foresight to say no.”

It's important to realize how shocked the physicists were in the aftermath of the bombing of Hiroshima, on August 6, 1945. They describe a series of waves of emotion: first, a sense of fulfillment that the bomb worked, then horror at all the people that had been killed, and then a convincing feeling that on no account should another bomb be dropped. Yet of course another bomb was dropped, on Nagasaki, only three days after the bombing of Hiroshima.

In November 1945, three months after the atomic bombings, Oppenheimer stood firmly behind the scientific attitude, saying, “It is not possible to be a scientist unless you believe that the knowledge of the world, and the power which this gives, is a thing which is of intrinsic value to humanity, and that you are using it to help in the spread of knowledge and are willing to take the consequences.”

Oppenheimer went on to work, with others, on the Acheson-Lilienthal report, which, as Richard Rhodes says in his recent book Visions of Technology , “found a way to prevent a clandestine nuclear arms race without resorting to armed world government”; their suggestion was a form of relinquishment of nuclear weapons work by nation-states to an international agency.

This proposal led to the Baruch Plan, which was submitted to the United Nations in June 1946 but never adopted (perhaps because, as Rhodes suggests, Bernard Baruch had “insisted on burdening the plan with conventional sanctions,” thereby inevitably dooming it, even though it would “almost certainly have been rejected by Stalinist Russia anyway”). Other efforts to promote sensible steps toward internationalizing nuclear power to prevent an arms race ran afoul either of US politics and internal distrust, or distrust by the Soviets. The opportunity to avoid the arms race was lost, and very quickly.

Two years later, in 1948, Oppenheimer seemed to have reached another stage in his thinking, saying, “In some sort of crude sense which no vulgarity, no humor, no overstatement can quite extinguish, the physicists have known sin; and this is a knowledge they cannot lose.”

In 1949, the Soviets exploded an atom bomb. By 1955, both the US and the Soviet Union had tested hydrogen bombs suitable for delivery by aircraft. And so the nuclear arms race began.

Nearly 20 years ago, in the documentary The Day After Trinity , Freeman Dyson summarized the scientific attitudes that brought us to the nuclear precipice:

“I have felt it myself. The glitter of nuclear weapons. It is irresistible if you come to them as a scientist. To feel it's there in your hands, to release this energy that fuels the stars, to let it do your bidding. To perform these miracles, to lift a million tons of rock into the sky. It is something that gives people an illusion of illimitable power, and it is, in some ways, responsible for all our troubles—this, what you might call technical arrogance, that overcomes people when they see what they can do with their minds.” 8

Now, as then, we are creators of new technologies and stars of the imagined future, driven—this time by great financial rewards and global competition—despite the clear dangers, hardly evaluating what it may be like to try to live in a world that is the realistic outcome of what we are creating and imagining.

In 1947, The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists began putting a Doomsday Clock on its cover. For more than 50 years, it has shown an estimate of the relative nuclear danger we have faced, reflecting the changing international conditions. The hands on the clock have moved 15 times and today, standing at nine minutes to midnight, reflect continuing and real danger from nuclear weapons. The recent addition of India and Pakistan to the list of nuclear powers has increased the threat of failure of the nonproliferation goal, and this danger was reflected by moving the hands closer to midnight in 1998.

In our time, how much danger do we face, not just from nuclear weapons, but from all of these technologies? How high are the extinction risks?

The philosopher John Leslie has studied this question and concluded that the risk of human extinction is at least 30 percent, while Ray Kurzweil believes we have “a better than even chance of making it through,” with the caveat that he has “always been accused of being an optimist.” 9 Not only are these estimates not encouraging, but they do not include the probability of many horrid outcomes that lie short of extinction.

Faced with such assessments, some serious people are already suggesting that we simply move beyond Earth as quickly as possible. We would colonize the galaxy using von Neumann probes, which hop from star system to star system, replicating as they go. This step will almost certainly be necessary 5 billion years from now (or sooner if our solar system is disastrously impacted by the impending collision of our galaxy with the Andromeda galaxy within the next 3 billion years), but if we take Kurzweil and Moravec at their word it might be necessary by the middle of this century.

What are the moral implications here? If we must move beyond Earth this quickly in order for the species to survive, who accepts the responsibility for the fate of those (most of us, after all) who are left behind? And even if we scatter to the stars, isn't it likely that we may take our problems with us or find, later, that they have followed us? The fate of our species on Earth and our fate in the galaxy seem inextricably linked.

Another idea is to erect a series of shields to defend against each of the dangerous technologies. The Strategic Defense Initiative, proposed by the Reagan administration, was an attempt to design such a shield against the threat of a nuclear attack from the Soviet Union. But as Arthur C. Clarke, who was privy to discussions about the project, observed: “Though it might be possible, at vast expense, to construct local defense systems that would 'only' let through a few percent of ballistic missiles, the much touted idea of a national umbrella was nonsense. Luis Alvarez, perhaps the greatest experimental physicist of this century, remarked to me that the advocates of such schemes were ‘very bright guys with no common sense.’”

Clarke continued: “Looking into my often cloudy crystal ball, I suspect that a total defense might indeed be possible in a century or so. But the technology involved would produce, as a by-product, weapons so terrible that no one would bother with anything as primitive as ballistic missiles.” 10

In Engines of Creation , Eric Drexler proposed that we build an active nanotechnological shield—a form of immune system for the biosphere—to defend against dangerous replicators of all kinds that might escape from laboratories or otherwise be maliciously created. But the shield he proposed would itself be extremely dangerous—nothing could prevent it from developing autoimmune problems and attacking the biosphere itself. 11

Similar difficulties apply to the construction of shields against robotics and genetic engineering. These technologies are too powerful to be shielded against in the time frame of interest; even if it were possible to implement defensive shields, the side effects of their development would be at least as dangerous as the technologies we are trying to protect against.

These possibilities are all thus either undesirable or unachievable or both. The only realistic alternative I see is relinquishment: to limit development of the technologies that are too dangerous, by limiting our pursuit of certain kinds of knowledge.

Yes, I know, knowledge is good, as is the search for new truths. We have been seeking knowledge since ancient times. Aristotle opened his Metaphysics with the simple statement: “All men by nature desire to know.” We have, as a bedrock value in our society, long agreed on the value of open access to information, and recognize the problems that arise with attempts to restrict access to and development of knowledge. In recent times, we have come to revere scientific knowledge.

But despite the strong historical precedents, if open access to and unlimited development of knowledge henceforth puts us all in clear danger of extinction, then common sense demands that we reexamine even these basic, long-held beliefs.

It was Nietzsche who warned us, at the end of the 19th century, not only that God is dead but that “faith in science, which after all exists undeniably, cannot owe its origin to a calculus of utility; it must have originated in spite of the fact that the disutility and dangerousness of the 'will to truth,' of 'truth at any price' is proved to it constantly.” It is this further danger that we now fully face—the consequences of our truth-seeking. The truth that science seeks can certainly be considered a dangerous substitute for God if it is likely to lead to our extinction.

If we could agree, as a species, what we wanted, where we were headed, and why, then we would make our future much less dangerous—then we might understand what we can and should relinquish. Otherwise, we can easily imagine an arms race developing over GNR technologies, as it did with the NBC technologies in the 20th century. This is perhaps the greatest risk, for once such a race begins, it's very hard to end it. This time—unlike during the Manhattan Project—we aren't in a war, facing an implacable enemy that is threatening our civilization; we are driven, instead, by our habits, our desires, our economic system, and our competitive need to know.

I believe that we all wish our course could be determined by our collective values, ethics, and morals. If we had gained more collective wisdom over the past few thousand years, then a dialogue to this end would be more practical, and the incredible powers we are about to unleash would not be nearly so troubling.

One would think we might be driven to such a dialogue by our instinct for self-preservation. Individuals clearly have this desire, yet as a species our behavior seems to be not in our favor. In dealing with the nuclear threat, we often spoke dishonestly to ourselves and to each other, thereby greatly increasing the risks. Whether this was politically motivated, or because we chose not to think ahead, or because when faced with such grave threats we acted irrationally out of fear, I do not know, but it does not bode well.

The new Pandora's boxes of genetics, nanotechnology, and robotics are almost open, yet we seem hardly to have noticed. Ideas can't be put back in a box; unlike uranium or plutonium, they don't need to be mined and refined, and they can be freely copied. Once they are out, they are out. Churchill remarked, in a famous left-handed compliment, that the American people and their leaders “invariably do the right thing, after they have examined every other alternative.” In this case, however, we must act more presciently, as to do the right thing only at last may be to lose the chance to do it at all.

As Thoreau said, “We do not ride on the railroad; it rides upon us”; and this is what we must fight, in our time. The question is, indeed, Which is to be master? Will we survive our technologies?

We are being propelled into this new century with no plan, no control, no brakes. Have we already gone too far down the path to alter course? I don't believe so, but we aren't trying yet, and the last chance to assert control—the fail-safe point—is rapidly approaching. We have our first pet robots, as well as commercially available genetic engineering techniques, and our nanoscale techniques are advancing rapidly. While the development of these technologies proceeds through a number of steps, it isn't necessarily the case—as happened in the Manhattan Project and the Trinity test—that the last step in proving a technology is large and hard. The breakthrough to wild self-replication in robotics, genetic engineering, or nanotechnology could come suddenly, reprising the surprise we felt when we learned of the cloning of a mammal.

And yet I believe we do have a strong and solid basis for hope. Our attempts to deal with weapons of mass destruction in the last century provide a shining example of relinquishment for us to consider: the unilateral US abandonment, without preconditions, of the development of biological weapons. This relinquishment stemmed from the realization that while it would take an enormous effort to create these terrible weapons, they could from then on easily be duplicated and fall into the hands of rogue nations or terrorist groups.

The clear conclusion was that we would create additional threats to ourselves by pursuing these weapons, and that we would be more secure if we did not pursue them. We have embodied our relinquishment of biological and chemical weapons in the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). 12

As for the continuing sizable threat from nuclear weapons, which we have lived with now for more than 50 years, the US Senate's recent rejection of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty makes it clear relinquishing nuclear weapons will not be politically easy. But we have a unique opportunity, with the end of the Cold War, to avert a multipolar arms race. Building on the BWC and CWC relinquishments, successful abolition of nuclear weapons could help us build toward a habit of relinquishing dangerous technologies. (Actually, by getting rid of all but 100 nuclear weapons worldwide—roughly the total destructive power of World War II and a considerably easier task—we could eliminate this extinction threat. 13

Verifying relinquishment will be a difficult problem, but not an unsolvable one. We are fortunate to have already done a lot of relevant work in the context of the BWC and other treaties. Our major task will be to apply this to technologies that are naturally much more commercial than military. The substantial need here is for transparency, as difficulty of verification is directly proportional to the difficulty of distinguishing relinquished from legitimate activities.

I frankly believe that the situation in 1945 was simpler than the one we now face: The nuclear technologies were reasonably separable into commercial and military uses, and monitoring was aided by the nature of atomic tests and the ease with which radioactivity could be measured. Research on military applications could be performed at national laboratories such as Los Alamos, with the results kept secret as long as possible.

The GNR technologies do not divide clearly into commercial and military uses; given their potential in the market, it's hard to imagine pursuing them only in national laboratories. With their widespread commercial pursuit, enforcing relinquishment will require a verification regime similar to that for biological weapons, but on an unprecedented scale. This, inevitably, will raise tensions between our individual privacy and desire for proprietary information, and the need for verification to protect us all. We will undoubtedly encounter strong resistance to this loss of privacy and freedom of action.

Verifying the relinquishment of certain GNR technologies will have to occur in cyberspace as well as at physical facilities. The critical issue will be to make the necessary transparency acceptable in a world of proprietary information, presumably by providing new forms of protection for intellectual property.

Verifying compliance will also require that scientists and engineers adopt a strong code of ethical conduct, resembling the Hippocratic oath, and that they have the courage to whistleblow as necessary, even at high personal cost. This would answer the call—50 years after Hiroshima—by the Nobel laureate Hans Bethe, one of the most senior of the surviving members of the Manhattan Project, that all scientists “cease and desist from work creating, developing, improving, and manufacturing nuclear weapons and other weapons of potential mass destruction.” 14 In the 21st century, this requires vigilance and personal responsibility by those who would work on both NBC and GNR technologies to avoid implementing weapons of mass destruction and knowledge-enabled mass destruction.

Thoreau also said that we will be “rich in proportion to the number of things which we can afford to let alone.” We each seek to be happy, but it would seem worthwhile to question whether we need to take such a high risk of total destruction to gain yet more knowledge and yet more things; common sense says that there is a limit to our material needs—and that certain knowledge is too dangerous and is best forgone.

Neither should we pursue near immortality without considering the costs, without considering the commensurate increase in the risk of extinction. Immortality, while perhaps the original, is certainly not the only possible utopian dream.

I recently had the good fortune to meet the distinguished author and scholar Jacques Attali, whose book Lignes d'horizons ( Millennium , in the English translation) helped inspire the Java and Jini approach to the coming age of pervasive computing, as previously described in this magazine. In his new book Fraternités , Attali describes how our dreams of utopia have changed over time:

“At the dawn of societies, men saw their passage on Earth as nothing more than a labyrinth of pain, at the end of which stood a door leading, via their death, to the company of gods and to Eternity . With the Hebrews and then the Greeks, some men dared free themselves from theological demands and dream of an ideal City where Liberty would flourish. Others, noting the evolution of the market society, understood that the liberty of some would entail the alienation of others, and they sought Equality .”

Jacques helped me understand how these three different utopian goals exist in tension in our society today. He goes on to describe a fourth utopia, Fraternity , whose foundation is altruism. Fraternity alone associates individual happiness with the happiness of others, affording the promise of self-sustainment.

This crystallized for me my problem with Kurzweil's dream. A technological approach to Eternity—near immortality through robotics—may not be the most desirable utopia, and its pursuit brings clear dangers. Maybe we should rethink our utopian choices.

Where can we look for a new ethical basis to set our course? I have found the ideas in the book Ethics for the New Millennium , by the Dalai Lama, to be very helpful. As is perhaps well known but little heeded, the Dalai Lama argues that the most important thing is for us to conduct our lives with love and compassion for others, and that our societies need to develop a stronger notion of universal responsibility and of our interdependency; he proposes a standard of positive ethical conduct for individuals and societies that seems consonant with Attali's Fraternity utopia.

The Dalai Lama further argues that we must understand what it is that makes people happy, and acknowledge the strong evidence that neither material progress nor the pursuit of the power of knowledge is the key—that there are limits to what science and the scientific pursuit alone can do.

Our Western notion of happiness seems to come from the Greeks, who defined it as “the exercise of vital powers along lines of excellence in a life affording them scope.” 15

Clearly, we need to find meaningful challenges and sufficient scope in our lives if we are to be happy in whatever is to come. But I believe we must find alternative outlets for our creative forces, beyond the culture of perpetual economic growth; this growth has largely been a blessing for several hundred years, but it has not brought us unalloyed happiness, and we must now choose between the pursuit of unrestricted and undirected growth through science and technology and the clear accompanying dangers.

It is now more than a year since my first encounter with Ray Kurzweil and John Searle. I see around me cause for hope in the voices for caution and relinquishment and in those people I have discovered who are as concerned as I am about our current predicament. I feel, too, a deepened sense of personal responsibility—not for the work I have already done, but for the work that I might yet do, at the confluence of the sciences.

But many other people who know about the dangers still seem strangely silent. When pressed, they trot out the “this is nothing new” riposte—as if awareness of what could happen is response enough. They tell me, There are universities filled with bioethicists who study this stuff all day long. They say, All this has been written about before, and by experts. They complain, Your worries and your arguments are already old hat.

I don't know where these people hide their fear. As an architect of complex systems I enter this arena as a generalist. But should this diminish my concerns? I am aware of how much has been written about, talked about, and lectured about so authoritatively. But does this mean it has reached people? Does this mean we can discount the dangers before us?

Knowing is not a rationale for not acting. Can we doubt that knowledge has become a weapon we wield against ourselves?

The experiences of the atomic scientists clearly show the need to take personal responsibility, the danger that things will move too fast, and the way in which a process can take on a life of its own. We can, as they did, create insurmountable problems in almost no time flat. We must do more thinking up front if we are not to be similarly surprised and shocked by the consequences of our inventions.

My continuing professional work is on improving the reliability of software. Software is a tool, and as a toolbuilder I must struggle with the uses to which the tools I make are put. I have always believed that making software more reliable, given its many uses, will make the world a safer and better place; if I were to come to believe the opposite, then I would be morally obligated to stop this work. I can now imagine such a day may come.

This all leaves me not angry but at least a bit melancholic. Henceforth, for me, progress will be somewhat bittersweet.

Do you remember the beautiful penultimate scene in Manhattan where Woody Allen is lying on his couch and talking into a tape recorder? He is writing a short story about people who are creating unnecessary, neurotic problems for themselves, because it keeps them from dealing with more unsolvable, terrifying problems about the universe.

He leads himself to the question, “Why is life worth living?” and to consider what makes it worthwhile for him: Groucho Marx, Willie Mays, the second movement of the Jupiter Symphony, Louis Armstrong's recording of “Potato Head Blues,” Swedish movies, Flaubert's Sentimental Education, Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, the apples and pears by Cézanne, the crabs at Sam Wo's, and, finally, the showstopper: his love Tracy's face.

Each of us has our precious things, and as we care for them we locate the essence of our humanity. In the end, it is because of our great capacity for caring that I remain optimistic we will confront the dangerous issues now before us.

My immediate hope is to participate in a much larger discussion of the issues raised here, with people from many different backgrounds, in settings not predisposed to fear or favor technology for its own sake.

As a start, I have twice raised many of these issues at events sponsored by the Aspen Institute and have separately proposed that the American Academy of Arts and Sciences take them up as an extension of its work with the Pugwash Conferences. (These have been held since 1957 to discuss arms control, especially of nuclear weapons, and to formulate workable policies.)

It's unfortunate that the Pugwash meetings started only well after the nuclear genie was out of the bottle—roughly 15 years too late. We are also getting a belated start on seriously addressing the issues around 21st-century technologies—the prevention of knowledge-enabled mass destruction—and further delay seems unacceptable.

So I'm still searching; there are many more things to learn. Whether we are to succeed or fail, to survive or fall victim to these technologies, is not yet decided. I'm up late again—it's almost 6 am. I'm trying to imagine some better answers, to break the spell and free them from the stone.

The passage Kurzweil quotes is from Kaczynski's Unabomber Manifesto, which was published jointly, under duress, by The New York Times and The Washington Post to attempt to bring his campaign of terror to an end. I agree with David Gelernter, who said about their decision: “It was a tough call for the newspapers. To say yes would be giving in to terrorism, and for all they knew he was lying anyway. On the other hand, to say yes might stop the killing. There was also a chance that someone would read the tract and get a hunch about the author; and that is exactly what happened. The suspect's brother read it, and it rang a bell. “I would have told them not to publish. I'm glad they didn't ask me. I guess.” ( Drawing Life: Surviving the Unabomber . Free Press, 1997: 120.)
Garrett, Laurie. The Coming Plague: Newly Emerging Diseases in a World Out of Balance . Penguin, 1994: 47-52, 414, 419, 452.
Isaac Asimov described what became the most famous view of ethical rules for robot behavior in his book I, Robot in 1950, in his Three Laws of Robotics: 1. A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3. A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
Michelangelo wrote a sonnet that begins: Non ha l' ottimo artista alcun concetto Ch' un marmo solo in sè non circonscriva Col suo soverchio; e solo a quello arriva La man che ubbidisce all' intelleto . Stone translates this as: The best of artists hath no thought to show which the rough stone in its superfluous shell doth not include; to break the marble spell is all the hand that serves the brain can do . Stone describes the process: “He was not working from his drawings or clay models; they had all been put away. He was carving from the images in his mind. His eyes and hands knew where every line, curve, mass must emerge, and at what depth in the heart of the stone to create the low relief.” ( The Agony and the Ecstasy . Doubleday, 1961: 6, 144.)
First Foresight Conference on Nanotechnology in October 1989, a talk titled “The Future of Computation.” Published in Crandall, B. C. and James Lewis, editors. Nanotechnology: Research and Perspectives . MIT Press, 1992: 269.
In his 1963 novel Cat's Cradle , Kurt Vonnegut imagined a gray-goo-like accident where a form of ice called ice-nine, which becomes solid at a much higher temperature, freezes the oceans.
Kauffman, Stuart. “Self-replication: Even Peptides Do It.” Nature, 382, August 8, 1996: 496.
Else, Jon. The Day After Trinity: J. Robert Oppenheimer and The Atomic Bomb.
This estimate is in Leslie's book The End of the World: The Science and Ethics of Human Extinction , where he notes that the probability of extinction is substantially higher if we accept Brandon Carter's Doomsday Argument, which is, briefly, that “we ought to have some reluctance to believe that we are very exceptionally early, for instance in the earliest 0.001 percent, among all humans who will ever have lived. This would be some reason for thinking that humankind will not survive for many more centuries, let alone colonize the galaxy. Carter's doomsday argument doesn't generate any risk estimates just by itself. It is an argument for revising the estimates which we generate when we consider various possible dangers.” (Routledge, 1996: 1, 3, 145.)
Clarke, Arthur C. “Presidents, Experts, and Asteroids.” Science , June 5, 1998. Reprinted as “Science and Society” in Greetings, Carbon-Based Bipeds! Collected Essays, 1934-1998 . St. Martin's Press, 1999: 526.
And, as David Forrest suggests in his paper “Regulating Nanotechnology Development,” “If we used strict liability as an alternative to regulation it would be impossible for any developer to internalize the cost of the risk (destruction of the biosphere), so theoretically the activity of developing nanotechnology should never be undertaken.” Forrest's analysis leaves us with only government regulation to protect us—not a comforting thought.
Meselson, Matthew. “The Problem of Biological Weapons.” Presentation to the 1,818th Stated Meeting of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, January 13, 1999.
Doty, Paul. “The Forgotten Menace: Nuclear Weapons Stockpiles Still Represent the Biggest Threat to Civilization.” Nature , 402, December 9, 1999: 583.
See also Hans Bethe's 1997 letter to President Clinton.
Hamilton, Edith. The Greek Way . W. W. Norton & Co., 1942: 35.

Bill Joy, cofounder and Chief Scientist of Sun Microsystems, was cochair of the presidential commission on the future of IT research, and is coauthor of The Java Language Specification. His work on the Jini pervasive computing technology was featured in Wired 6.08 .

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Knowledge is what is known; the confident understanding of a subject, potentially with the ability to use it for a specific purpose. It is a familiarity with someone or something, which can include facts , information , descriptions, or skills acquired through experience or education . Knowledge can be acquired in many different ways and from many sources, including but not limited to perception, reason, memory, testimony, scientific inquiry, education, and practice. The philosophical study of knowledge is called epistemology.

1.1 Chinese
1.6 Early Christianity
2.1 Until 15th century
2.2 15th century
2.3 16th century
2.4 17th century
2.5 18th century
2.6 19th century
3.1 First half of the 20th century
3.2 Second half of the 20th century
3.3 21st century
5 Respectfully Quoted: A Dictionary of Quotations (1989)
7 External links

Quotes, ancient history [ edit ]

Chinese [ edit ].

Confucius in The Analects 2:17, as translated by Arthur Waley
Variant translation: "Yu, shall I teach you about knowledge? What you know, you know, what you don't know, you don't know. This is true knowledge".
Confucius , Analects , Book II, Chapter XVII. Cited in: Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Zhuangzi , The Book of Chuang Tzu , as translated by M. Palmer, et. al. (Penguin: 1996),p. 12
Zhuangzi , The Book of Chuang Tzu , as translated by M. Palmer, et. al. (Penguin: 1996), p. 80

Greek [ edit ]

Aristotle , Prior Analytics (67b 4), tr. by Jonathan Barnes (1984/95)
In the General Index of Barnes' translations the term "knowledge" gives 85 references, and this quote is the first.
Other translations of this quote:
All doctrine, and all intellectual discipline, arise from pre-existent knowledge , O.F. Owen (1853)
All communications of knowledge from teacher to pupil by way of reasoning pre-suppose some pre-existing knowledge. , E.S. Bouchier (1901)
All instruction given or received by way of argument proceeds from pre-existent knowledge , G.R.G. Mure (1928) .
All men naturally desire knowledge. An indication of this is our esteem for the senses; for apart from their use we esteem them for their own sake, and most of all the sense of sight. Not only with a view to action, but even when no action is contemplated, we prefer sight, generally speaking, to all the other senses. The reason of this is that of all the senses sight best helps us to know things, and reveals many distinctions.
Aristotle , Metaphysics I (980a 21), tr. by Hugh Tredennick.
Aristotle , Metaphysics book 1, part 2, 982a31, Complete Works (1984), vol. 2, p. 1554.
Know thyself.
Inscription attributed to Chilo of Thales , Pythagoras, Solon, on the Temple of Apollo at Delphi.
Herodotus Book 9, Ch. 16
Of all men's miseries the bitterest is this: to know so much and to have control over nothing.
The most hateful torment for men is to have knowledge of everything but power over nothing.
Diogenes Laertius , Thales , IX. Cited in: Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
All knowledge, when separated from justice and the other virtues, is seen to be cunning and not wisdom.
Plato , Menexenus .
As for me, all I know is that I know nothing.
Socrates , Plato , Phædrus , Section CCXXXV. Cited in: Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Alas, how dreadful knowledge of the truth can be when there's no help in truth!
Variant: Wisdom is a curse when wisdom does nothing for the man who has it.
Sophocles Oedipus Rex Line 316/7.

Latin [ edit ]

Constant and frequent questioning is the first key to wisdom … For through doubting we are led to inquire, and by inquiry we perceive the truth.
Peter Abelard (1079–1142) Sic et Non , Prologus; translation from Frank Pierrepont Graves A History of Education During the Middle Ages and the Transition to Modern Times ([1918] 2005) p. 53.
St. Augustine of Hippo , as quoted in The Anchor Book of Latin Quotations: with English translations‎ (1990) by Norbert Guterman, p. 375.
Not only is there an art in knowing a thing, but also a certain art in teaching it.
Cicero , De Legibus , II. 19. Cited in: Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Every one is least known to himself, and it is very difficult for a man to know himself.
Cicero , De Oratore , III. 9. Cited in: Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Not to know what happened before one was born is always to be a child.
Cicero , De Oratore , XXXIV. Cited in: Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.

One cannot know everything.
Horace , Carmina , IV. 4. 22. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
If you know anything better than this candidly impart it; if not, use this with me.
Horace , Epistles , I, 6, 67. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
This precept descended from Heaven: know thyself.
Juvenal , Satires (early 2nd century), XI. 27. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
To know is not to know, unless someone else has known that I know.
Lucilius , Fragment .
What can give us more sure knowledge than our senses? How else can we distinguish between the true and the false?
Lucretius , De Rerum Natura , I, 700. Cited in: Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
I know all that better than my own name.
Martial , Epigrams (c. 80-104 AD), IV. 37. 7. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Is then thy knowledge of no value, unless another know that thou possessest that knowledge?
Persius , Satires , I. 27.
I know you even under the skin.
Persius , Satires , III. 30. Same in Erasmus—Adagia. Cited in: Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
It is well for one to know more than he says.
Plautus , Epidecus , I. 1. 60. Cited in: Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Nature has given us the seeds of knowledge, not knowledge itself.
Seneca the Younger , Epistolæ Ad Lucilium , CXX. Cited in: Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
For it shows want of knowledge to kick against the goad.
Terence , Phormio , I, 24, 27. Cited in: Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
By too much knowledge they bring it about that they know nothing.
Terence , Andria , Prologue, XVII. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.

Bible [ edit ]

Book of Job 37: 15-16 , NWT
Isaiah 11:9 ( KJV )
Variant translation:
Isaiah 11:9b (NWT)
The Bible (KJV) , Proverbs 24:3-4.
Daniel 12:4 ( KJV )
David , Psalms 19:1-2 ( KJV )
Deuteronomy Rabbah (c. 450–900).
Ecclesiastes. I. 18. Cited in: Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Solomon , Proverbs 1:7 ( KJV )
Proverbs 1:7 (New World Translation)
When wisdom enters your heart
Solomon , Book of Proverbs 2: 10-13 , NWT
Solomon , Proverbs 12:1.
Proverbs 24:3-4
Romans 11:33 ( KJV )
Romans 11:33-35 ( New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures )

Quran [ edit ]

Quran 17:36
Quran 20:114

Early Christianity [ edit ]

Augustine of Hippo (354–430) As quoted in The Anchor Book of Latin Quotations: with English translations‎ (1990) by Norbert Guterman, p. 375.
Augustine of Hippo (354–430) X, 35
Augustine of Hippo (354–430) XI, 26 , Parts of this passage has been heavily compared with later statements of René Descartes .
Paul of Tarsus , First Epistle to the Corinthians 8:2

Quotes, modern history [ edit ]

Until 15th century [ edit ].

Hillel the Elder Pirkei Avot 1:13
Avicenna (c. 1020) "On Medicine".
To ask the proper question is half of knowing
Other translation : Half of science is asking the right questions.
Anselm of Canterbury (1077/78) Proslogion , chapter 5, translated by Clement C. J. Webb (1903).
Dante Alighieri , Vision of Paradise , Canto V, line 41. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Meister Eckhart (c. 1260 - 1328).
Meister Eckhart (c. 1260 - 1328) Sermon 9 , as translated in The Reading and Preaching of the Scriptures in the Worship of the Christian Church (1999) by Hughes Oliphant Old, Ch. 9 : The German Mystics, p. 449.
Robert of Gloucester , Rhyming Chronicle . Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Maimonides (c. 1190) Guide for the Perplexed
If all men by nature desire to know, then they desire most of all the greatest knowledge of science . So the Philosopher argues in chap. 2 of his first book of the work [ Metaphisics ]. And he immediately indicates what the greatest science is, namely the science which is about those things that are most knowable. But there are two senses in which things are said to be maximally knowable: either [1] because they are the ﬁrst of all things known and without them nothing else can be known; or [2] because they are what are known most certainly. In either way, however, this science is about the most knowable. Therefore, this most of all is a science and, consequently, most desirable..."
Duns Scotus Quaestiones subtilissimae de metaphysicam Aristotelis , as translated in: William A. Frank, Allan Bernard Wolter (1995) Duns Scotus, metaphysician . p. 18-19

15th century [ edit ]

Desiderius Erasmus Letter to Christian Northoff (1497), as translated in Collected Works of Erasmus (1974), p. 114.
Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471), Imitation of Christ , I, 1, 8). Quote reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895). p. 365.
Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471), Imitation of Christ
John Skelton , Why Come Ye nat to Courte , line 1,106. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.

16th century [ edit ]

Francis Bacon , letter to Lord Burleigh, 1592.
Francis Bacon , Meditationes Sacræ [ Sacred Meditations ] (1597) "De Hæresibus" [Of Heresies]
Also in Leviathan (1651) by Thomas Hobbes , Chapter X.
Francis Bacon , Novum Organum , Aphorism III. Cited in: Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Francis Bacon , rendering of I Cor, VIII. I. Cited in: Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est.
Francis Bacon , Treatise , De Hæresiis . Cited in: Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Francis Bacon , Valerius Terminus: Of the Interpretation of Nature , Works , vol. 1, p. 87.
Ballaladeva (or Ballalasena) in his 16th century classic, Bhoja-Prabandha, quoted from Balakrishna, S., Lessons from Hindu History in 10 Episodes (2020)
Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield , Letters (July 1, 1748).
Knowledge has no enemy except an ignorant man
George Puttenham, The Arte of English Poesie (1589), excerpted and translated in Renaissance Debates on Rhetoric (edited by Wayne A. Rebhorn).
What harm in learning and getting knowledge even from a sot, a pot, a fool, a mitten, or a slipper.
François Rabelais , Pantagruel (1532), III. 16.
François Rabelais , Works , Book II, Chapter XXXII. Cited in: Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
William Shakespeare , Henry VI , Part II (c. 1590-91), Act IV, scene 7, line 78.
William Shakespeare , Love's Labour's Lost (c. 1595-6), Act I, scene 1, line 92.
William Shakespeare , The Merchant of Venice (late 1590s), Act III, scene 2, line 159.
William Shakespeare on King James I. See Payne Collier , Life of Shakespeare . Cited in: Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Sir Philip Sidney , Sonnet. Leave me, O Love. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Sir Philip Sidney , Defence of Poesy . Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.

17th century [ edit ]

William Alexander, Earl of Stirling , Recreation with the Muses , London. Fol. 1637, p. 7. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Francis Bacon , The Advancement of Learning (1605), Book I, i, 3.
Thomas Brooks (1608-1680). Quote reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895). p. 365.
Samuel Butler , Hudibras , Part I (1663-64), Canto I, line 149.
Samuel Butler , Hudibras , Part I (1663-64), Canto I, line 533.
Samuel Butler , Hudibras , Part I (1663-64), Canto III, line 263.
Samuel Butler , Hudibras , Part II (1664), Canto III, line 297.

William Davenant (1606–1668), The Just Italian , Act V, scene 1. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
He knoweth the universe, and himself he knoweth not.
Jean de La Fontaine , Fables , VIII. 26. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
George Herbert (1593-1633). Quote reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 364.
John Locke , Some Thoughts Concerning Education (1693) Sec. 70.
John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning Education (1693) Sec. 94.
John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning Education (1693) Sec. 118.
For in particulars our knowledge begins, and so spreads itself, by degrees, to generals [Footnote: This is the order in time of the conscious acquistion of knowledge that is human. The Essay might be regarded as a commentary on this one sentence. Our intellectual progress is from particulars and involuntary recipiency, through reactive doubt and criticism, into what is at last reasoned faith.]. Though afterwards the mind takes the quite contrary course, and having drawn its knowledge into as general propositions as it can, makes those familiar to its thoughts, and accustoms itself to have recourse to them, as to the standards of truth and falsehood. [Footnote: This is the philosophic attitude. Therein one consciously apprehends the intellectual necessities that were UNCONCIOUSLY PRESUPPOSED, its previous intellectual progress. In philosophy we 'draw our knowledge into as general propositions as it can' be made to assume, and thus either learn to see it as an organic while in a speculative unity, or learn that it cannot be so seen in a finite intelligence, and that even at the last it must remain 'broken' and mysterious in the human understanding.]
John Locke, An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding, Book IV Of Knowledge And Probability Chapter 7 Of Maxims
John Milton , Paradise Regained (1671), Book I, line 211.
John Milton (1608–1674). Quote reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 364.
You speak before a man to whom all Naples is known.
Molière , L'Avare , V. 5. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Act as though I knew nothing.
Molière , Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme , II. 6. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Isaac Newton (c.1660-80) fragments from a "Treatise on Revelation", cited in: Richard Olson (1995) Science Deified and Science Defied . p. 125.
John Owen (1616–1683), The works of John Owen , Bk. VI, p. 39; translation from Latin by Thomas Harvey, as cited in Henry Philip Dodd, The Epigrammatists (1870), p. 150.
Robert Owen , Works , Book VI. 39. Cited in: Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Blaise Pascal (1669) Pensées , Chapter 67 .
Extremes are for us as though they were not, and we are not within their notice. They escape us, or we them. This is our true state; this is what makes us incapable of certain knowledge and of absolute ignorance... This is our natural condition, and yet most contrary to our inclination; we burn with desire to find solid ground and an ultimate sure foundation whereon to build a tower reaching to the Infinite. But our whole groundwork cracks, and the earth opens to abysses.
Blaise Pascal (1669) Pensées , Chapter 72
William Shakespeare , Hamlet (1600-02), Act IV, scene 5, line 42.
William Shakespeare , Macbeth (1605), Act I, scene 3, line 58.

18th century [ edit ]

Joseph Addison , The Guardian (1713), Letter of Alexander to Aristotle, No. 111.
William Cowper , The Task (1785), Book VI, "Winter Walk at Noon", line 88. "Knowledge dwells," etc., found in: Milton, Paradise Lost , VII. Seldon, Table Talk . Young, Satires , VI. Night Thoughts , V.
William Cowper , The Task (1785), Book VI, "Winter Walk at Noon", l. 96.
Timothy Dwight IV (1752 – 1817) Reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 275.
John Gay , My Own Epitaph , inscribed on Gay’s monument in Westminster Abbey; also quoted as "I thought so once; but now I know it".
Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1794) "The Vocation of the Scholar", as translated by William Smith, in The Popular Works of Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1889), Vol. I, Lecture IV, p. 188

What we do not understand we do not possess.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe , Sprüche in Prosa . Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
We know accurately only when we know little; with knowledge doubt increases.
Oliver Goldsmith , The Traveller (1764), line 64.
Samuel Johnson , The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia (1759), Ch. 13.
Samuel Johnson , The History of Rassselas, Prince of Abissinia (1759), Ch. 41.
Samuel Johnson (1763), Boswell's Life of Johnson . Conversation on Saturday, July 30, 1763. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Samuel Johnson , in James Boswell , Life of Samuel Johnson (1791), Vol. II, 18 April 1775, p. 258.
Samuel Johnson , reported in James Boswell , Life of Samuel Johnson (1775). Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Immanuel Kant , Critique of Pure Reason (1781, J.M.D. Meiklejohn Tr. 1872) Introduction I. Of the Difference Between Pure and Empirical Knowledge.
He who knows much has many cares.
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing , Nathan der Weise , IV. 2. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
John Locke , Of the Conduct of the Understanding (1706).
John Locke , Some Thoughts Concerning Reading and Study . Appendix B. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Sir James Mackintosh , Vindiciæ Gallicæ (1791).
Variant of "A little learning is a dangerous thing" of Alexander Pope 's Essay on Criticism
Alexander Pope , An Essay on Man (1733-34), Epistle IV, line 397.
Alexander Pope , Moral Essays (1731-35), Epistle I, line 39.
Friedrich Schiller , Proverbs of Confucius , Bowring's translation. Cited in: Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
If you wish to know yourself observe how others act. If you wish to understand others look into your own heart.
Friedrich Schiller , Votire Tablets , Xenien . Cited in: Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Friedrich Schiller (1796), Tabulae Votivae ( Votive Tablets ) "The Key"; tr. Edgar Alfred Bowring , The Poems of Schiller, Complete (1851).
Edward Young (1683 – April 5, 1765) Quotes reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895)., p. 366.
William Wordsworth (1795). Lines left upon a Seat in a Yew-tree . Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.

19th century [ edit ]

Joseph Addison , The Guardian (1713)
Thomas Arnold (1795-1842). Quotes reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895). p. 364.
Christian Nestell Bovee , Intuitions and Summaries of Thought (1862), Volume II, p. 24.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning , A Vision of Poets (1844), "Conclusion", St. 37.
Lord Brougham , book title of a book published under the superintendence of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (1830). Duke of Sussex , address to the Royal Society (1839). Prof. Craik, Volume bearing this title (1828).
Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux , Quote reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895) p. 366.
Lord Byron , Manfred (1817), Act I, scene 1.
Lord Byron , Manfred (1817), Act II, scene 4.
Coleridge (1772–1834). Referring to "Know thyself". Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Will Carleton (1885) City Ballads , p. 143. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Thomas Carlyle , Essays , Death of Goethe. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Thomas Carlyle , Essays , On History. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Benjamin Disraeli , Sybil (1845), Book I, Chapter V.
Ralph Waldo Emerson , Nature (1849) Introduction, p. 37 .
Ralph Waldo Emerson , Society and Solitude (1870), "Old Age".
Ralph Waldo Emerson , Letters and Social Aims (1876), Quotation and Originality . Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Ralph Waldo Emerson , Society and Solitude , Courage . Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1810) Outline of the Doctrine of Knowledge . I.
Carl Friedrich Gauss (Sep 2, 1808) letter to János Bolyai , as quoted by G. Waldo Dunnington , Carl Friedrich Gauss: Titan of Science (2004 edition of 1995 first printing) p. 416.
J.C. and A.W. Hare (1827) Guesses at Truth , p. 454. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
William Stanley Jevons Letter to Henrietta Jevons (28 February 1858), published in Letters and Journal of W. Stanley Jevons (1886), edited by Harriet A. Jevons, his wife, p. 101.
Soren Kierkegaard Either/Or Part I, Swenson p. 34, 1843.
Charles Lamb (1775–1834), Essays of Elia , The Old and the New Schoolmaster . Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Letitia Elizabeth Landon , Romance and Reality (1831), Vol I, Chapter 19
Letitia Elizabeth Landon , Francesca Carrara (1834), Vol.II, Chapter 30
Henry Liddon (1829–1890). Quote reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895). p. 366.
James Russell Lowell , The Biglow Papers , No. 1, line 3. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Edward Bulwer-Lytton , Zanoni (1842) Book III, Chapter IV.
Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay , (About Brougham). Life and Letters , Volume I, p. 175. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Alexander Maclaren (1826–1910). Quote reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895) p. 365.
Horace Mann , Lectures and Reports on Education , Lecture I. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Henry Melvill (1798–1871). Quote reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 364.
Owen Meredith (pseudonym of Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton ), "Γνωι Σεαυτον" ("Know Thyself"), in The Poetical Works of Owen Meredith (1867), Volume I, p. 247.
William Mountford (1816–1885). Quote reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895). p. 364.
Albert Pike , Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (1871), Ch. XXXII : Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret.
Friedrich Schelling (1802) Lectures on the Method of Academic Study .
Sydney Smith (1771–1845) Quote reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 364.
Sydney Smith , Pleasures of Knowledge . Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
James Smithson , various writings, including his will. Inscription, National Museum of American History, Washington, D.C.
Gardiner Spring (1785–1873) Quote reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 365.
Bayard Taylor , Kilimandjaro , Stanza 2. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Alfred Tennyson , Locksley Hall (1842), Stanza 71.
Alfred Tennyson , In Memoriam A.H.H. (1849), CXIV.
Mark Twain , Tom Sawyer Abroad (1894).
Mark Twain , A Tramp Abroad (1880).
Theodore Watts-Dunton , "Prophetic Pictures at Venice VII: New Year's Morning, 1867", in The Coming of Love and Other Poems (London: John Lane, 1897), p. 207.
Daniel Webster , address delivered at the laying of the Corner-Stone of Bunker Hill Monument (1825). Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Daniel Webster , address delivered on Bunker Hill (June 17, 1843). Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
William Whewell (1840) Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences . Part 1, Book 1, ch. 2, sect. 7.
Walt Whitman , "Song of Myself" (1855) Leaves of Grass (1855)
Nathaniel Parker Willis , The Scholar of Thibét Ben Khorat , II. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.

Contemporary quotes [ edit ]

First half of the 20th century [ edit ].

Witter Bynner , The Way of Life (1944).
Clarence Darrow in a debate with religious leaders in Kansas City, as quoted in a eulogy for Darrow by Emanuel Haldeman-Julius (1938)
John Dewey (1916) Democracy and Education .
Albert Einstein , in "What Life Means to Einstein: An Interview by George Sylvester Viereck" in The Saturday Evening Post (26 October 1929)
Quoted by: Jeff Nilsson, Imagination is more important than knowledge , The Saturday Evening Post, 20 March 2010
Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.
Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.
Albert Einstein (1931) Cosmic Religion : With Other Opinions and Aphorisms , p. 97.
Albert Einstein , as quoted in "Einstein's Unfinished Symphony" at BBC Science & Nature
Henry Gantt (1910) Work, Wages, and Profits: Their Influence on the Cost of Living , p. 112.
Ben Franklin , as quoted in Exercises in English Grammar (1909) by M. A. Morse.
I must know everything. I must penetrate the heart of his secret! I must become Caligari!
Hans Janowitz, Carl Mayer; The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
Rudyard Kipling If We Only Understood . Attributed to him in Masonic Standard (May 16, 1908). Not found. Claimed for Bessie Smith. Quote reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Alfred Korzybski (1933) Science and Sanity , p. 20.
Jiddu Krishnamurti , Education and the Significance of Life (1953), Harper, p. 47.

Charles Webster Leadbeater , Some Glimpses of Occultism: Ancient and Modern (1903)
Karl Mannheim (1929) Ideology and Utopia .
Mao Zedong , "On Practice" (1937)
Bertrand Russell Letter to Gilbert Murray, April 3, 1902.
Bertrand Russell (1925) What I Believe .
Bertrand Russell (1925) A History of Western Philosophy . p. xiii.
Bertrand Russell (1935), In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays , Ch. 2: 'Useless' Knowledge.
Michael Oakeshott , "Rationalism in Politics" (1947), published in Rationalism in Politics and other essays (1962)
Oswald Spengler , Decline of the West , Volume 1, C. Atkinson, trans., p. 300
Knowledge comes only to those who despise happiness.
Georg Trakl , „Gesang zur Nacht”
Mark Twain , Notebook (1908).
Richard Weaver , Ideas Have Consequences (Chicago: 1948), p. 72
Henry Miller , "An Open Letter to Surrealists Everywhere" (1939)

Second half of the 20th century [ edit ]

Knowledge is indivisible. When people grow wise in one direction, they are sure to make it easier for themselves to grow wise in other directions as well. On the other hand, when they split up knowledge, concentrate on their own field, and scorn and ignore other fields, they grow less wise — even in their own field.
Isaac Asimov , The Roving Mind (1983), chapter 25.
All You Need is Love , The Beatles , written by John Lennon , Paul McCartney
Sharon Begley (1956); misattributed to Carl Sagan (1934–1996) cited in: "Seeking Other Worlds (Profile of Carl Sagan)" (1977 15 August 1977), Newsweek , Volume 90. p. 53.
Attributed to Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) by The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations (1979), 3d ed., p. 491. Not verified in his writings, although some similar ideas are found in Everybody's Friend , or Josh Billing's Encyclopedia and Proverbial Philosophy of Wit and Humor (1874). Original spelling is corrected: "What little I do know I hope I am certain of" (p. 502). "Wisdom don't consist in knowing more that is new, but in knowing less that is false" (p. 430). "I honestly believe it is better to know nothing than to know what ain't so" (p. 286). Walter Mondale echoed the words above in his first debate with President Ronald Reagan, October 7, 1984, in Louisville, Kentucky: "I'm reminded a little bit of what Will Rogers once said of Hoover. He said it's not what he doesn't know that bothers me, it's what he knows for sure just ain't so". Transcript, The New York Times (October 8, 1984), p. B4. This has not been found in Rogers's work.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer , Letters and Papers from Prison (1967), p. 311
Daniel Boorstin (1989). "Gresham's Law: Knowledge or Information?" Remarks at the White House Conference on Library and Information Services, Washington, November 19, 1979.
Nathaniel Branden , "Mental Health versus Mysticism and Self-Sacrifice" (1963)
Ben Carson (1996) Think Big (p. 207).
Carlos Castaneda (1971) Separate Reality: Conversations With Don Juan. p. 85.
Harold Chestnut (1965) Systems Engineering Tools . p. 130 cited in: Melvin Silverman (1996) The Technical Manager's Handbook: A Survival Guide . p. 74.
King Crimson (1969) Epitaph - In the court of the crimson king .
Willie Wonka, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , Roald Dahl , Pg. 84-85 (1964)
Richard Feynman , in his Nobel Lecture "The Development of the Space-Time View of Quantum Electrodynamics" (11 December 1965)
Paulo Freire , Extension or Communication (1974), in Education for Critical Consciousness (Bloomsbury Academic Press: 2021), p. 89
Paulo Freire , Extension or Communication (1974), in Education for Critical Consciousness (Bloomsbury Academic Press: 2021), p. 109
Edmund L. Gettier, "Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?", Analysis , Vol. 23, No. 6 (Jun., 1963)
On Gettier problem
Haidakhan Babaji cited in: Gaura Devi. (1990). Babaji's Teachings , P.7.
Michael Halliday (1987) cited in: Margaret Laing, Keith Williamson (1994) Speaking in Our Tongues . p. 99.

I hold that every bit of definite knowledge has to have a mathematical aspect
Charles Hartshorne, "Charles Hartshorne, Philosophy," in interview with Steven Vita, Veery journal (1996)
Friedrich Hayek (1960) The Constitution of Liberty .
Bruce Lee , Bruce Lee: The Lost Interview (1971).
Audre Lorde to Mary Daly , Sister Outsider : Essays and Speeches . Crossing Press. 1984. p. 68. ISBN 978-0-89594-142-8 .
Mao Zedong , "Where Do Correct Ideas Come From?" (May 1963)
Attributed to Robert McCloskey, U.S. State Department spokesman, by Marvin Kalb, CBS reporter, in TV Guide , 31 March 1984, citing an unspecified press briefing during the Vietnam war.
H. L. Mencken , Minority Report (1956).
Marvin Minsky , "K-Linesː A Theory of Memory" Cognitive Science 4, pp.117-133 (1980).
Marvin Minsky, "Music, Mind, and Meaning" (1981).
Harold Pinter in The Homecoming (1966), Lenny to Teddy in Act Two.
Karl Popper (1963) Conjectures and Refutations: The Growth of Scientific Knowledge .
Anatol Rapoport (1970) "Modern Systems Theory – An Outlook for Coping with Change".
M. C. Richards (1916-1999) cited in: David Spohn (1986) Touchstones: A Book of Daily Meditations for Men . p. 22.
Jonas Salk , in Academy of Achievement interview, in San Diego, California (16 May 1991) .
George Santayana in: Analytical Philosophy of Knowledge , CUP Archive, p. 60.
Thomas Sowell , Knowledge and Decisions (1980), Ch. 1 : The Role of Knowledge
David Deutsch , The Fabric of Reality (1997), Ch. 8: The Significance of Life
Ludwig Wittgenstein in: Robert J. Yanal Hitchcock as Philosopher , McFarland, 2 June 2005, p. 16.

21st century [ edit ]

Eraldo Banovac, Reasonably Through Life (2019), Chapter "About knowledge", pages 25-31, ISBN: 9781092742719.
Chris Collison and Geoff Parcell, Learning to Fly - Practical Knowledge Management from Leading and Learning Organizations (2005), Chapter 2, pages 24-25.
Kimiz Dalkir, Knowledge Management in Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. (2011), Chap. 1 : Introduction to Knowledge Management
Daniel C. Dennett , Kinds Of Minds: Toward An Understanding Of Consciousness (2008).
Robert Dunn , Every Living Thing: Man's Obsessive Quest to Catalogue Life, from Nanobacteria to New Monkeys (2009) Introduction.
Sylvia Earle "My wish: Protect our oceans" (2009 TED talk )
Sylvia Earle Interview with Time (2021)
Ernst von Glasersfeld , cited in Fox (2001, p. 27).
James Howard Kunstler , The Long Emergency (2005).
Marvin Minsky , The Emotion Machine (2006).
Suman Pokhrel , Song of Soul
Sarah Ruhl, "On Knowing," 100 Essays I Don't Have Time to Write (2014)
Donald Rumsfeld , Department of Defense news briefing, 12 February 2002.
Larry Sanger , How the Internet Is Changing What We (Think We) Know , from a speech in Upper Arlington Public Library (23 January 2008)
William Shatner , William Shatner And Lawrence Krauss Go To School . YouTube ( April 28, 2023 ). (quote at 1:06:26 of 1:34:32 in video; The Origins Podcast with Lawrence Krauss )
Tom Siegfried, A Beautiful Math: John Nash, Game Theory, and the Modern Quest for a Code of Nature (2006) Preface
Richard Shweder (2003). Why do Men Barbecue?
Thomas Sowell , Basic Economics (2010), Ch. 2. The Role of Prices
Nassim Nicholas Taleb , The Bed of Procrustes: Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms (2010) Preludes, p.4.
Nassim Nicholas Taleb , The Bed of Procrustes: Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms (2010) The Universal and the Particular, p. 56.

Proverbs [ edit ]

Several variants began appearing in English language periodicals late in the 19th century, typically attributed as an Arabic or Persian proverb. E.g. Cosmopolitan , Volume 23 (May–October 1897), p. 315. Later variants typically use "a child" rather than "simple".
Lady Burton, Life of Sir Richard Burton . Given as an Arabian Proverb. Another rendering in the Spectator (Aug. 11, 1894), p. 176. In Hesiod , Works and Days , 293. 7. Quoted by Aristotle , Nicomachean Ethics (c. 325 BC), I. 4. Cicero , Pro Cluent. , 31. Livy , Works , XXII. 29.
Anonymous rendering of the Arab Proverb. Cited in: Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.
Proverbs, XVII. 27. Cited in: Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23.

Respectfully Quoted: A Dictionary of Quotations (1989) [ edit ]

Attributed to Benjamin Franklin , Poor Richard, in The Home Book of Quotations, ed. Burton Stevenson, 10th ed., p. 1054 (1967), and in The Home Book of American Quotations, ed. Bruce Bohle, p. 220 (1967). Reported as unverified in Respectfully Quoted: A Dictionary of Quotations (1989).
Khalil Gibran , The Voice of the Master , trans. Anthony R. Ferris (1958), p. 87.
James Madison , letter to W. T. Barry (August 4, 1822), in Gaillard Hunt, ed., The Writings of James Madison vol. 9 (1910), p. 103. These words, using the older spelling "Governours", are inscribed to the left of the main entrance, Library of Congress James Madison Memorial Building.
Thomas Brackett Reed , referring to two of his colleagues in the House of Representatives.—Samuel W. McCall, The Life of Thomas Brackett Reed, chapter 21, p. 248 (1914).
Scripps-Howard newspapers, motto. It is still in current use and may be found on the masthead of the papers they publish, e.g., The Rocky Mountain News.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson , "Locksley Hall", line 141, The Poetic and Dramatic Works of Alfred Lord Tennyson, p. 124 (1899).
Mark Twain , A Tramp Abroad, vol. 2 (vol. 4 of The Writings of Mark Twain), chapter 14, p. 189 (1879, reprinted 1968).

External links [ edit ]

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Essay on Knowledge is Power
Short and Long Essays on Knowledge is Power in English. I believe these essays of 100 words, 250 words and 600 words may help you elaborate the topic in an easiest way: Knowledge is Power Essay 10 Lines (100 - 150 Words) 1) Knowledge is power when it is applied to the benefit of humanity. 2) Knowledge helps us to live life to the fullest.
Essay on Knowledge is Power in English For Students & Children
Essay on Knowledge is Power in 400 to 500 words. "Knowledge is power". There are so many kinds of power that a man can possess: the power of physical strength, the power of money, or the power of the support of men. But the power of knowledge is the strongest of all. Knowledge is all that a person knows.
Knowledge is power (Quotation)
The phrase "knowledge is power" is often attributed to Francis Bacon, from his Meditationes Sacrae (1597). [1] Thomas Jefferson used the phrase in his correspondence on at least four occasions, each time in connection with the establishment of a state university in Virginia. In an 1817 letter to George Ticknor, Jefferson equated knowledge with ...
Essay on Knowledge is Power for Children and Students
Knowledge is Power Essay 2 (150 words) The real meaning of proverb 'Knowledge is Power' (said by the Francis Bacon) is, knowledge is truly a power and power of knowledge is almost everything. Actually, that is the knowledge which has distinguished the difference in man from animals. Human beings cannot compare animals in the physical power ...
Essay On Knowledge Is Power 11 Models
Knowledge is Power Essay in English 150 Words. Knowledge is everything that humans can know or see, whether by chance or by intent, as man knew fire by chance, he was able to go up to space on purpose and by several experiments. Scientists say that there are some differences between science and knowledge, where science is defined as interest in ...
Essay on Knowledge is Power for Children and Students
Knowledge is Power Essay 6 (400 words) Knowledge is power is the most famous and true proverb said by the famous personality named, Francis Bacon. Knowledge helps to differentiate between human beings and animals. Man has mind and ability to use the power of knowledge accordingly, that's why man is called as the most powerful and intelligent ...
Knowledge is Power Essay in English With Outline
by Moin akhtar June 20, 2023. Knowledge is Power Essay in English with Outline and headings because "The only source of knowledge is an experience.". Knowledge is the actual power of the person. Knowledge is the awareness and familiarity attained by the experience of a fact and through study. This power has more strength than the physical ...
Essay on "Knowledge is Power" in English for Class 1, 2 & 3: 10 Lines
Long Essay On 'Knowledge Is Power' In English For Children. Acquiring knowledge should be the ultimate goal of a person, and kids should understand this sooner. Given below is an essay for class 3 on the topic. A country grows and becomes powerful by having the right amount of knowledgeable people as its citizens. They can help boost ...
Knowledge is Power Essay In English
We can say that knowledge gives power, and power gives knowledge. Short and Long Essay on Knowledge is Power in English Essay 1 (300 words) Preface. There is a very famous saying that "Knowledge is power", which means that knowledge has great power and has the ability to conquer all the material forces of the world.
Paragraph on Knowledge is Power
Knowledge is Power Paragraph 150 words. 'Knowledge is Power', is indeed a proverb that is true in every sense. We all know where the power of knowledge can take us. Knowledge helps us in our everyday life to deal with any situation or to solve any problem. No one in life can actually prosper without knowledge.
Knowledge is power essay
Knowledge is power essay: "Knowledge is Power" is a quote that has been used for centuries. ... The meaning of the phrase is "knowledge is power" in English. But the exact phrase "Scientia Potentia Est" was first used to the public for the first time in 1668 in 1668 by Thomas Hobbes, who served as secretary to Bacon. In his 1668 edition ...
Microsoft Copilot Studio: Building copilots with agent capabilities
When developing copilots with agent capabilities, establishing clear boundaries is paramount. Copilots operate strictly within the confines of the maker-defined instructions, knowledge, and actions. The data sources linked to the copilot adhere to stringent security measures and controls, managed through the unified admin center of Copilot Studio.
Sociology of knowledge
The 1903 essay Primitive Classification, ... According to him, knowledge is a form of power and can conversely be used against individuals as a form of power. ... UP, 1964. The most direct and detailed presentation of the phenomenological theory of perception available in the English language. Peter Hamilton, Knowledge and Social ...
Why the Future Doesn't Need Us
First let us postulate that the computer scientists succeed in developing intelligent machines that can do all things better than human beings can do them. In that case presumably all work will be ...
Knowledge
Knowledge. Everyone in the world knows how to seek for knowledge that they do not have, but do not know how to find what they already know. ~ Zhuangzi. All teaching and all intellectual learning come about from already existing knowledge. ~ Aristotle. Knowledge is what is known; the confident understanding of a subject, potentially with the ...
Philosophy
Philosophy (φιλοσοφία, 'love of wisdom', in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, value, mind, and language.It is a rational and critical inquiry that reflects on its own methods and assumptions. Historically, many of the individual sciences, such as physics and psychology, formed part of philosophy.
Poems of Protest, Resistance, and Empowerment
collection. Poems of Protest, Resistance, and Empowerment. Why poetry is necessary and sought after during crises. By The Editors. Illustration by CHema Skandal! Pithy and powerful, poetry is a popular art form at protests and rallies. From the civil rights and women's liberation movements to Black Lives Matter, poetry is commanding enough to ...

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