Action Vs Knowledge Quotes

A young man is not a proper hearer of lectures on political science; for he is inexperienced in the actions that occur in life, but its discussions start from these and are about these; and, further, since he tends to follow his passions, his study will be vain and unprofitable, because the end that is aimed at is not knowledge but action. And it makes no difference whether he is young in years or youthful in character.

Knowing something and acting on that knowledge in a political setting are two different things…. Finally the markets come and hit you over the head.

If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches, and poor men’s cottages princes’ palaces. It is a good divine that follows his own instructions: I can easier teach twenty what were good to be done, than be one of the twenty to follow mine own teaching.

It seems to me that man is made to act rather than to know: the principles of things escape our most persevering researches.

Knowledge kills action; action requires the veils of illusion.

Reading about ethics is about as likely to improve one's behavior as reading about sports is to make one into an athlete.

Why is it that common sense is seldom common practice?

Calvin: The more you know, the harder it is to take decisive action. Once you are informed, you start seeing complexities and shades of gray. You realize nothing is as clear as it first appears. Ultimately, knowledge is paralyzing. Being a man of action, I cannot afford to take that risk. Hobbes: You're ignorant, but at least you act on it.