Two days ago, I talked with a student about the excessive focus on knowledge in school. She told me that many are still stuck in the belief that knowledge is power. As if by knowing more, we become more. A belief that technology is rendering less and less accurate.
Knowledge is not power. It is only potential that we actualize only when we understand and apply that knowledge.
“Knowledge is not power, it is only potential. Applying that knowledge is power. Understanding why and when to apply that knowledge is wisdom!” — Takeda Shingen
Acquiring and processing knowledge is a machine-like process, one in which machines are already better than us. Understanding is an entirely different thing. Something that requires us to tap into our humanness.
Understanding is different from seeing that somebody's message is logical from the point of view of your own internal logic. Understanding happens when you incorporate somebody's meaning by a quantum change—a discontinuous change—in your previous belief system. — Ph. D Amit Goswami
The proof that we have understood something is the creation of a discontinuity in our belief system.
That is the real purpose of learning.