Knowledge is not the same as information

Knowing something don’t mean you understand nothing

“Any fool can know. The point is to understand.”

Albert Einstein

Information is like a coin, abundant in circulation, but it won't buy you much. Knowledge, on the other hand, is a polished gem, refined through the process of understanding and experience.

These days, information is a commodity; it’s so abundant people prefer to discard it than actually use it. You are what you read, and most of us skim articles, snack on social media, and jam half-remembered headlines in a doggie bag for later. None of this tomfoolery leads to knowledge.

Most information is obtained passively and much of it is "inert":

• A phone number: 867-5309

• A headline: "Disney CEO mandates 4-day RTO"

• A list of ingredients: flour, eggs, and salt

Knowledge is active. It takes energy to acquire and use:

• The ability to dial a phone number on a rotary phone.

• Articulating the nuances of HR policy change at Disney.

• Turning flour, eggs, and salt into delicious carbs.

Information leads to knowledge when you do something with it. Like mixing it with other information and causing a chemical reaction.

Knowledge worth a damn should cause a little friction in your skull. Friction leads to heat, and ultimately, illumination.