Chel Owens

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”

-The Internet, although often attributed to Benjamin Franklin or Confucius.
Quote Investigator is fairly certain original credit goes to Xunzi (Xun Kuang), a Confucian philosopher who lived in the third century B.C.E., with the quote:

“Not having heard of it is not as good as having heard of it. Having heard of it is not as good as having seen it. Having seen it is not as good as knowing it. Knowing it is not as good as putting it into practice. Learning arrives at putting it into practice and then stops . . .”

-Xunzi, Xunzi: The Complete Text, chapter 8: “The Achievements of the Ru” (translated by Eric L. Hutton, Princeton University Press, 2014.)

30 thoughts on “”

  2. These quotes put me in mind of the Gestalt theory which emphasizes critical thinking skills and deductive reasoning. While educational theories come and go these fundamental principles, call them what you will, are basic elements in training teachers to work with intellectually superior students. However, after years as an educator, they apply to everyone who wants to make the most of their cognitive ability. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. Far be it from me to question ‘the wisdom’ but ‘learning arrives at putting it into practice and then stops’? Good writers (insert any other field of practice) never stop learning.

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  9. I Loveeee this Chel. Words to live by 🥰. Thanks you so much for sharing. I’m going to save it 💗 Glad we have works of ancient Philosopher’s for giving us such beautiful Quotes 😊

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    1. It’s a stretch, but probably just the fault of the translator. The message is similar enough that QI thinks he should get original credit is all.

      I’m a fan of the simpler version.

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