Einstein said "Imagination is more important than knowledge." What do you think?
By tikiselene
@tikiselene (129)
United States
6 responses
@shell1986 (405)
• United States
31 Jul 08
I believe he was half right on that one. Knowledge is very important in order to have a basis for information. This information should have already been proven true and legitimate. Without knowledge we, as humans, cannot expand what we already know if we know nothing. We need an imagination in order to gain more knowledge and to strive to discover new things. Without imagination many things we have today would cease to exist. If the Wright Brothers had no imagination then no one would have ever flown. The plane would not exist if it were not for their imagination.
@shell1986 (405)
• United States
1 Aug 08
thanks! Sometimes you really just have to think outside the question. I never knew he said that...I guess I learned something new today! Have an awesome night!
@cobrateacher (8432)
• United States
31 Jul 08
Welcome to myLot, newbie!
I love than quote. If we have strong imaginations, we can always figure out where to get the necessary knowledge when we need it. Nobody can know everything, so what we need to back up our imaginations is sufficient education to know how to find out!
@cobrateacher (8432)
• United States
1 Aug 08
Of course! What difference would it make how much a person knows if he didn't have the creativity or imagination to know how to use it?
@tikiselene (129)
• United States
1 Aug 08
Thank you! I like your comments. It sounds like you are saying we need both but perhaps imagination is needed before knowledge.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
31 Jul 08
Up to a point I believe this to be true, although in my opinion, an imaginative person is stabilised by strong reserves of knowledge. Imaginative people are among the great creators of our life, and as such are a blessing, but great powers of imagination need to be anchored to reality, or those that possess them can become terribly lost, and suffer accordingly.
@shell1986 (405)
• United States
1 Aug 08
I think knowledge and wisdom are two very important things that everyone should possess. However, I feel that they go hand in hand so one is not necessarily more important than the other. A lot of people say wisdom comes with age and experiences, I agree completely. But in order to gain wisdom you have to have some sort of knowledge about the experiences you have had in your life.
@tikiselene (129)
• United States
1 Aug 08
Yes knowledge and wisdome should go together. I agree. Sometimes it seems like some people have knowledge but don't lack the wisdom to use it wisely. Eventually I hope we will all become both knowledgable and wise.
@tikiselene (129)
• United States
1 Aug 08
Yes. And not only reality, but also integrity. J.Robert Oppenheimer and the nuclear bomb come to mind. Which brings us to another question of knowledge or wisdom? WHich is better?
@tikiselene (129)
• United States
1 Aug 08
Yes...if you believe it is true, it often is. Or if it's not it just might turn out that way. Especially w/things like how you believe in yourself or others...I guess perceptions is the word.
@Xdrowninghavocx (3117)
• United States
2 Aug 08
I'm 50/50 on this. Knowledge is good if you use it in a positive way. However, imagination is everything. And the two of them combined equal a gifted individual. I do use my imagination more often than my smarts. I think that's because I'm a writer.
@tikiselene (129)
• United States
4 Aug 08
I agree with the gifted part and I also think that imagination definitely would come before the knowledge. Am I to assume you are a writer of fiction then?
@besthope44 (12123)
• India
1 Jun 10
Well said and it has the real meaning. Imagination is path way of true knowledge. Unless you cannot imagine, you can excel knowledge.
