This aphorism promotes intellectual humility, suggesting that true wisdom lies in recognizing the vastness of what remains unknown. It encourages continuous learning and an open-minded approach, rather than claiming absolute knowledge or understanding.
Quote by Amadou Hampâté Bâ: “He who knows, knows that he does not know everything.”
He who knows, knows that he does not know everything.
Insight
Historical Context
Bâ, a master of oral tradition and a scholar, often emphasized humility in knowledge. This quote speaks to the profound wisdom of acknowledging one's limitations, a key principle in many African epistemologies.
About the Author
Malian writer, oral historian, and diplomat who devoted his life to recording West African oral traditions before they were lost. He represented Mali at UNESCO in the 1960s and 1970s, and his memoir Amkoullel, l'enfant peul remains a celebrated document of pre-colonial Sahelian life. He coined the phrase that became the rallying cry for African oral history.
View all quotes by Amadou Hampâté Bâ