Voltaire — The more I read, the more I acquire, the more certain I am that I know nothing.
The more I read, the more I acquire, the more certain I am that I know nothing.Voltaire
Attributed to Voltaire
Knowledge has a strange shape: the more you gather, the larger the unknown around you appears. Voltaire treats this not as discouragement but as the honest state of a curious mind.
Expect this feeling as your English grows. The more words you learn, the more you notice how many remain. That widening horizon is not a sign you are failing — it is proof you are climbing.
Words that widen the world
To gain or come to possess something, often through effort.
Synonyms: gain, obtain, learn
She acquired new vocabulary every single day.
Firmly convinced; known without doubt.
Synonyms: sure, confident, positive
He was certain he still had much to learn.
Common questions
He means the more he learns, the more aware he becomes of how much he still doesn't know — a humble, motivating view of knowledge.
Feeling there's always more to learn is normal and healthy; it reflects real progress, not failure.
Carry it with you
In your own words, what does this thought mean to you? Write three or four sentences in English about a moment when it felt true — saying it yourself is how it stays with you.
Read more from Voltaire
A hand-picked book or collection to sit with this idea longer. Affiliate links — replace # with your tagged URL.
Explore the readingLove this one? Order it as a print or poster → (shop coming soon)