To whom is attributed the saying (rephrase probably incorrectly) "It
is best to know what you do not know"

Hello mitts,

"The things we know best are those we have not learned."

Written by the French soldier and moralist, Luc de Clapiers, Marquis
de Vauvenargues (1715-1747) in the only book he ever published (1746):
"Introduction a la connaissance de l'esprit humain, suivie de
reflexions et de maximes ("Introduction to an Understanding of the
Human Mind, Followed by Reflections and Maxims"). It consisted of
about 700 reflections, your quotation is number 479.

"The things we know best are those we have not learned."
Luc, Marquis de Vauvenargues (1715-1747)
"Reflexions et Maximes", 1746
Number 479
http://www.junkfoodforthought.com/quotations/K.htm

Marquis De Vauvenargues: Quotes to Inspire You:
Ability
Deception
Expectation
Knowledge
Motivation
Praise
Taste
Time and Time Management
http://www.cyber-nation.com/victory/quotations/authors/quotes_vauvenargues_marquisde.html

Short biography plus some more quotes:
In French:
http://www.proverbes-citations.com/vauvenargues.htm
Translated into English:
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.proverbes-citations.com/vauvenargues.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2B%2522Reflexions%2Bet%2BMaximes%2522%26num%3D100%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DG%26as_qdr%3Dall

To find the quote initially, I looked in "Familiar Quotations" by John
Bartlett, Fourteenth Edition, Little, Brown (©1968), for all of the
quotations containing the the word "know". Once I found the quote and
author, I searched Google for some online links.

I trust this is the quotation you are looking for. If not, or if you
have any questions, please post a clarification request before rating
my answer.

Thank you,
hummer

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Clarification of Answer by hummer-ga on 29 Nov 2003 17:33 PST

Hi mitts, 

Is this not the quote you were seeking?  If not, or if you had any
questions, I asked that you post a clarification request before rating
my answer - I would've been happy to respond. If it's not the correct
quotation, I'll be happy to remove my answer so another researcher can
give it a try. Let me know. hummer