Zuò yánjiū zuì yàojǐn de shì bù zhī wéi bù zhī, bù kě qiáng bù zhī yǐwéi zhī.
In research, the most essential thing is to admit what you don't know — never force ignorance into knowledge.
Tips
history
From 《论语·为政》 (Analects: On Governance). Confucius tells his student Zilu: 『知之为知之，不知为不知，是知也』— 'to know when you know, and to know when you don't know — that is true knowing.' A cornerstone of Confucian intellectual honesty.
usage
Almost always quoted as the second half of the couplet 『知之为知之，不知为不知』. Used to praise humility in learning or to rebuke bluffing.
