G. I. Gurdjieff: Quotes about understanding

G. I. Gurdjieff was influential spiritual teacher, Armenian philosopher, composer and writer. Explore interesting quotes on understanding.
G. I. Gurdjieff: 124 quotes28 likes

“This is exactly what people do not understand.”

G. I. Gurdjieff

In Search of the Miraculous (1949)
Context: The being of two people can differ from one another more than the being of a mineral and of an animal. This is exactly what people do not understand. And they do not understand that knowledge depends on being. Not only do they not understand this latter but they definitely do not wish to understand it.

“KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING ARE QUITE DIFFERENT. Only understanding can lead to being, whereas knowledge is but a passing presence in it.”

G. I. Gurdjieff

Source: All and Everything: Meetings with Remarkable Men (1963)

“I find it necessary on the first page of this book, quite ready for publication, to give the following advice:
:Read each of my written expositions thrice:
:Firstly: at least as you have already become mechanized to read all your contemporary books and newspapers.
:Secondly: as if you were reading aloud to another person.
:And only thirdly: try and fathom the gist of my writings. Only then will you be able to count upon forming your own impartial judgment, proper to yourself alone, on my writings. And only then can my hope be actualized that according to your understanding you will obtain the specific benefit for yourself which I anticipate, and which I wish for you with all my being.”

G. I. Gurdjieff

"Friendly Advice [Written impromptu by the author on delivering this book, already prepared for publication, to the printer" (1949)
All and Everything: Beelzebub's Tales to His Grandson (1950)

“Without self knowledge, without understanding the working and functions of his machine, man cannot be free, he cannot govern himself and he will always remain a slave.”

G. I. Gurdjieff

In Search of the Miraculous (1949)

“You must understand that ordinary efforts do not count; only superefforts count.”

G. I. Gurdjieff

In Search of the Miraculous (1949)

“Yes, Professor, knowledge and understanding are quite different. Only understanding can lead to being, whereas knowledge is but a passing presence in it. New knowledge displaces the old and the result is, as it were, a pouring from the empty into the void.”

G. I. Gurdjieff

All and Everything: Meetings with Remarkable Men (1963)