It is impossible to learn that which you think you already know

kipngeno koech
3 min readSep 21, 2024

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There was once a highly esteemed professor from the West, celebrated and adorned with numerous accolades. He was the pride of his nation, unmatched in his brilliance and achievements. Praised far and wide, he was held in the highest regard. Yet, despite all the admiration, deep within, he felt an emptiness, a sense that something important was missing, though he couldn’t quite grasp what it was.

One day, he wakes up and makes a decision — to journey east in search of answers. His destination: a Zen master atop the Himalayan Mountains. After three flights and a grueling trek across rugged terrain, he finally arrives. Sitting with the Zen master, he talks endlessly for a week. He speaks of his mastery over the laws of physics, reciting them from memory. He recounts how he is frequently called upon to advise the state on educational matters. He even muses that had he lived before Isaac Newton, he would have measured gravity more precisely.

After a week of talking, the professor finally pauses and asks the Zen master, “Master, I’ve accomplished so much, yet I still feel incomplete. What am I missing?”

In response, the Zen master silently picks up a teapot and begins pouring tea into a cup. He pours and pours, and soon the tea overflows, spilling onto the table. Still, the master continues to pour.

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Confused, the professor exclaims, “Stop! The cup is full! It can’t hold any more!”

The Zen master calmly replies, “Like this cup, you are full of your own knowledge and accomplishments. How can I teach you anything unless you first empty your cup?”

“it is impossible to learn that which you think you already know” - Epictetus

look, as long as you think you hold all the answers you cannot learn, unless a man empties the cup, the tea will continue overflowing. You cannot see what is missing if you close your eyes to it. 2000 years ago Epictetus reminded himself this: there is just no way you can learn if you think you already know enough

Socrates too, considered one of the wisest men in Athens then, said:

“All I Know Is That I Know Nothing”

look, it is impossible to learn that which you think you already know! Ponder on this!

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kipngeno koech
kipngeno koech

Written by kipngeno koech

You will find me here, lost in words, for it is my pen that listens and understands the depths of my soul.

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