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.