The More I Learn the Less I Know

Albrect Dürer wrote this about learning:

It is very necessary for a man to know some one thing by reason of the usefulness which ariseth therefrom. Wherefore we should all gladly learn, for the more we know so much more do we resemble the likeness of God who verily knoweth all things.

This seems like a very nobel task—”to learn all things”—and one would certainly be more like God if he did know everything. I’ve always loved the way this was stated, but I’m not sure that it is possible to learn everything. I’ve noticed in my own studies and learning that the more I learn and the harder I work, the less it seems like I actually know. There are times when I feel like I know quite a bit about what I do, and then there are times when I’m sure I don’t know anything.

Learning creates new opportunities to learn. “Not learning” eliminates opportunities. When you learn something new, you actually know less — relative to your new potential to learn — than you did before.

The most valuable result from learning isn’t necessarily the knowledge you will gain. The most valuable result is simply the opportunity you’ve created for yourself to learn even more.