పాండిత్యానికి తనకంతా తెలుసునన్న అహంకారమున్నది. వివేకానికి తనకేమీ తెలియదన్న వినమ్రత ఉన్నది.

pandityaniki tanakanta telusunanna ahankaramunnadi. vivekaniki tanakemi teliyadanna vinamrata unnadi.

Translation

Scholarship has the arrogance of knowing everything; wisdom has the humility of knowing nothing.

Meaning

This expression highlights the difference between mere academic knowledge and true wisdom. Scholarship (Pandityam) often leads to pride because one thinks they have mastered a subject, whereas true wisdom (Vivekam) makes a person realize how much more there is to learn, leading to humility. It is used to encourage lifelong learning and modesty.

Related Phrases

The one who hides the wealth knows, and the one who records the account also knows.

This proverb is used to indicate that secrets related to money or hidden actions are usually known by two types of people: the one who performed the act and the one who maintains the records or details. It implies that truth cannot be hidden forever when there is documentation or a second party involved.

What does a pig know of the scent of rosewater?

This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks the refinement, taste, or intelligence to appreciate something valuable or sophisticated. It suggests that high-quality things are wasted on those who cannot understand their worth, similar to the English expression 'casting pearls before swine.'

The treasure is known to the man who buried it.

This expression refers to the fact that only the person who performed a specific action or hid something knows the truth or the exact location. It is used to emphasize that the source or the creator has the most accurate knowledge about a situation or an object.

To the one who knows, it is sesame flour; to the one who doesn't, it is oil-press waste.

This expression highlights how value and utility are perceived based on knowledge. Something that appears simple or useless to an ignorant person is recognized as valuable and beneficial by someone with expertise. It is used to describe situations where a person's skill or lack thereof determines their understanding of a task or object.

Until it hits the head, one knows nothing.

This proverb is used to describe a person who does not understand the severity or consequences of a situation until they personally suffer from it or until the problem becomes unavoidable. It is similar to the English expression 'to learn the hard way.'

There is no one who knows everything, there is no one who knows nothing.

This expression emphasizes humility and the vastness of knowledge. It suggests that no single person is an absolute expert in every field, nor is anyone completely devoid of any knowledge or skills. It is used to remind people that everyone has something to learn and everyone has something to offer.

He said, 'You look as big as a buffalo, yet you don't know the scorpion charm?'

This is a sarcastic expression used to mock someone who possesses great physical size or strength but lacks basic common sense or a specific simple skill. It highlights the irony of having a large stature without the expected mental capability or practical knowledge to handle a small problem.

The weight of a load is known to him who carries it. No one knows the weight of another's burden.

This expression means that only the person performing a task or enduring a struggle truly understands the difficulty or burden involved. It is used to suggest that outsiders should not judge or underestimate someone's hardship without experiencing it themselves.

A copper coin for the person who left, a gold coin for the one who brought them together.

This proverb is used to highlight unfair or disproportionate rewards. It describes a situation where the person who actually did the work or was involved gets a very small amount (Agani), while the mediator or the one who arranged the deal gets a much larger reward (Tankam). It is often applied to middlemen taking excessive commissions.

There is no one who knows everything, and there is no one who knows nothing.

This proverb emphasizes that knowledge is vast and no single person can claim absolute mastery over all subjects. Similarly, every person, no matter how uneducated or simple, possesses some form of unique knowledge or skill. It is used to promote humility among the learned and respect for everyone's inherent wisdom.