Wisdom which a wise man tries to pass on to someone always sounds like foolishness.
 Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha (1922). copy citation

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Author Hermann Hesse
Source Siddhartha
Topic foolishness wisdom
Date 1922
Language English
Reference
Note Translated by Gunther Olesch, Anke Dreher, Amy Coulter, Stefan Langer and Semyon Chaichenets
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2500/2500-h/2500-h.htm

Context

“Sometimes, for an hour or for an entire day, I have felt knowledge in me, as one would feel life in one's heart. There have been many thoughts, but it would be hard for me to convey them to you. Look, my dear Govinda, this is one of my thoughts, which I have found: wisdom cannot be passed on. Wisdom which a wise man tries to pass on to someone always sounds like foolishness." "Are you kidding?" asked Govinda. "I'm not kidding. I'm telling you what I've found. Knowledge can be conveyed, but not wisdom. It can be found, it can be lived, it is possible to be carried by it, miracles can be performed with it, but it cannot be expressed in words and taught.” source