“I am not young enough to know everything.”
– Oscar Wilde

Kabir – The couplet
???? ???? ???? ???, ???? ? ???? ??? |
??? ???? ??? ????, ?? ?? ???? ?? ??? ||

transliterated:
Padha suna seekha sabhi, miti na sanshay shool |
Kahe Kabir – kaise kahoon, yeh sab dukh ka mool ||

Translation:
As we began to learn to read and write, the more our confusion increase, not decrease |
Says Kabir – how should I express this? – half-knowledge is the root of all pain ||

My understanding:

Humans are always in a rush. As soon as we complete a word, we presume the sentence. Having read the sentence, we know the paragraph. A word later, the story has filled our being – at least, our version of the story – the way I want it to be, the way that suits my way of thinking, my way of being.

We have to learn to do a lot of things, just as we teach our children.

Learning the alphabet does not mean we have learnt grammar. Mastery of grammar does not imply clarity of expression. Clear expression still does not necessarily include clarity of thought or pleasant artistry.

I am still learning to say what I mean, and so are the old masters. This humility is the only way to continue to open doors to further learning and understanding, to peel back more layers of the fruit if we are ever to perceive the seed hidden inside – the little nub that explains our reason for existence.