There are a great many things about this man's life that I do not
know. But that does not matter because most of the things about any
man's life are of little or no importance. That the man came to know
the value of Ignorance was a thing of vast importance to the man and,
therefore, is of importance to my story. Ignorance also is one of the
Thirteen Truly Great Things of Life but only those who have much
knowledge know its value.

A wise Ignorance is rich soil from which the seeds of Knowledge will
bring forth fruit, a hundred fold. "I do not know": this is the
beginning and the end of wisdom. One who has never learned to say: "I
do not know," has not the A B C of education. He who professes to be
educated but will not confess Ignorance is intellectually condemned.

A man who pretends to a knowledge which he has not is like a pygmy
wearing giant's clothing, ridiculous: but he who admits Ignorance is
like a strong knight, clothed in a well fitting suit of mail, ready to
achieve truth.

When a man declares openly his ignorance concerning things of which he
knows but little, the world listens with increased respect when he
speaks of the thing he knows: but when a man claims knowledge of all
things, the world doubts mightily that he knows much of anything, and
accepts questioningly whatever he says of everything.

That which a man does not know harms him not at all, neither does it
harm the world; but that which, through a shallow, foolish,
self-conceit, he professes to know, when he has at best only a half
knowledge, or, in a self destructive vanity, deceives himself into