We can know only that we know nothing. That is the height of wisdom.

Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace, Vol. 2, Part 2, ch. 1 (Maude Book 5, ch. 1)

What it means

Pierre thinks this in a moment of confusion, echoing Socrates. Admitting how little you know is where real wisdom begins. Stay humble and keep asking.

The source

"We can know only that we know nothing. That is the height of wisdom." Leo Tolstoy said it in War and Peace, Vol. 2, Part 2, ch. 1 (Maude Book 5, ch. 1). Translated by Louise and Aylmer Maude, 1922.

"All we can know is that we know nothing. And that’s the height of human wisdom."

Louise and Aylmer Maude, 1922, War and Peace, Vol. 2, Part 2, ch. 1 (Maude Book 5, ch. 1). Text read at gutenberg.org.

Who said it

Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910). Russian novelist who wrote War and Peace (1869) and Anna Karenina (1878), then spent his later life on questions of faith and simple living.

Questions

What does "We can know only that we know nothing. That is the height of wisdom." mean?: Pierre thinks this in a moment of confusion, echoing Socrates. Admitting how little you know is where real wisdom begins. Stay humble and keep asking.
Who said "We can know only that we know nothing. That is the height of wisdom."?: Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910). Source: War and Peace, Vol. 2, Part 2, ch. 1 (Maude Book 5, ch. 1).
What is the original wording?: All we can know is that we know nothing. And that’s the height of human wisdom (Louise and Aylmer Maude, 1922). Translated by Louise and Aylmer Maude, 1922.
Is "We can know only that we know nothing. That is the height of wisdom." on a shirt?: Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 6 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

Cite this line

"We can know only that we know nothing. That is the height of wisdom." (Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace, Vol. 2, Part 2, ch. 1 (Maude Book 5, ch. 1), trans. Louise and Aylmer Maude, 1922). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/we-can-know-only-that-we-know-nothing