Do I know? | Le Dung Nguyen | TEDxVinschoolHanoi

The speaker, initially not a poetry enthusiast, was introduced to Lisa by their English teachers. While analyzing a stanza from Lisa's poem, the speaker experienced confusion, feeling a "big fat I don't know." This initial confusion led to embarrassment, as the speaker felt inadequate. From an evolutionary perspective, overestimating one's belief is natural, and admitting "I don't know" can smash down a wall of pride built on perceived supremacy, which otherwise causes embarrassment. High expectations resulting from overestimation can lead to greater hurt when those expectations are not met. During an English class, while struggling with summer homework, the speaker stumbled upon a quote: "Whatever inspiration is, it's born from a continuous I don't know." This revelation was a "circuit breaker." The speaker had been sweating bullets, terrified of having their ignorance exposed, but then realized that a Nobel Prize winner was suggesting that not knowing was not a sign of failure, but rather the source of inspiration. This shifted the speaker's embarrassment, leading to the realization that their confused "I don't know" reaction to the poem was actually the most poetic response possible, aligning with what the poet wanted. Society often treats saying "I don't know" as a vulnerability, a gap in our armor. We are trained to have answers, viewing knowledge as a destination. Admitting a lack of knowledge can feel like being lost, leading to feelings of ridicule and vulnerability. Society has associated "I don't know" with incompetence. However, Sibska, in her lecture, argues that "I don't know" is not weak but powerful. Those who always claim to "know"—tyrants, fanatics, dictators, or stubborn relatives—stop growing and looking. Sibska emphasizes that knowledge that doesn't lead to new questions quickly becomes stagnant. Saying "I know" shrinks one's world, while "I don't know" expands it, acting as the engine of curiosity. The example of Isaac Newton is given: if he had simply "known" why an apple fell, we wouldn't have the theory of gravity. Sibska teaches that "I don't know" is an open door, an admission that the world is still astonishing, full of discoveries, replacing embarrassment with the thrill of exploration. The speaker suggests that we should view "I don't know" not as a wall indicating a lack of intelligence, but as a starting line—the only way to begin real conversations. This concept extends beyond the classroom. Before 1915, everyone "knew" gravity was a force, and this consensus stifled further inquiry. Everyone, that is, except Albert Einstein. Einstein dared to ask questions others had stopped asking, letting his curiosity override established facts. Through thought experiments, he proposed the theory of general relativity, fundamentally reshaping our understanding of spacetime. If Einstein had simply "known" gravity was a settled force, he might never have conceived of his revolutionary ideas. His refusal to accept the status quo led to a groundbreaking discovery. Saying "I know" can trap individuals in the status quo, molding them to current realities. Those who embrace "knowing" and conform to collective beliefs are labeled ordinary. In contrast, great minds like Einstein and Hawking refused to be ordinary, choosing to question and not "know." They resisted being melted into the pot with millions of "knowers," instead occupying their own space with "thousands of idol nos," leading to them being called unordinary. New knowledge is not discovered by those who blend in but by the unorthodox and unfazed minds who bravely wield uncertainty as a tool. The speaker concludes by vowing to embrace uncertainty in English class, asking questions rather than faking answers or remaining silent, remembering Sibska's lesson. Across all fields, those who shape our understanding are not those with all the answers, but those unafraid to admit their lack of an answer. Uncertainty paves the way for curiosity, which in turn leads to new knowledge. The speaker urges listeners not to let the fear of ignorance keep them ordinary, reminding them that being imperfect, ignorant, and unordinary is not a hindrance but a powerful tool to change the world.