“Knowledge is knowing that Frankenstein is not the monster. Wisdom is knowing that Frankenstein is”
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818), a novel written by English author Mary Shelley (1797–1851), is named after the character of scientist Victor Frankenstein. The monster he brings to life is not named and is often mistakenly named “Frankenstein” instead of “Frankenstein’s monster.”
A joke was posted on Twitter on August 11, 2014 (taken from this post on tumblr.):
“Knowledge is knowing that Frankenstein is not the monster. Wisdom is knowing that Frankenstein is the monster. http://tmblr.co/ZpFOzu1NyKCav”
That is, the scientist is the real monster.
“Knowledge consists of knowing that a tomato is a fruit, and wisdom consists of not putting it in a fruit salad” is another “knowledge/wisdom” saying.
Wikipedia: Frankenstein
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is a novel written by English author Mary Shelley (1797–1851) that tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a grotesque but sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment. Shelley started writing the story when she was 18, and the first edition of the novel was published anonymously in London on 1 January 1818, when she was 20. Her name first appeared on the second edition, published in France in 1823.
Google Books
God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian
By Kurt Vonnegut
New York, NY: Seven Stories Press
2000
Pg. 65:
I (Kurt Vonnegut—ed.) said many ignorant people nowadays thought “Frankenstein” was the name of the monster, and not of the scientist who created him.
She (Mary Shelley, but this quote appears to be invented—ed.) said, “That’s not so ignorant after all. There are two monsters in my story, not one. And one of them, the scientist, is indeed named Frankenstein.”
Twitter
Kal
@GoddammitKalena
Knowledge is knowing that Frankenstein is not the monster.
Wisdom is knowing that Frankenstein is the monster.
2:38 AM - 11 Aug 2014
Twitter
Official Heavy
@yaboyheavy
Knowledge is knowing that Frankenstein is not the monster.
Wisdom is knowing that Frankenstein is the monster.
3:30 AM - 11 Aug 2014
Twitter
Dr Tanner
@_DrTanner_
Knowledge is knowing that Frankenstein is not the monster.
Wisdom is knowing that Frankenstein is the monster. http://tmblr.co/ZpFOzu1NyKCav
7:39 AM - 11 Aug 2014
Twitter
Angela Paolini ★
@Angela_Paolini
Knowledge is knowing that Frankenstein is not the monster.
Wisdom is knowing that Frankenstein is the monster.
http://themouseabides.tumblr.com/post/93688781874/knowledge-is-knowing-that-frankenstein-is-not-the …
4:59 PM - 11 Aug 2014
Twitter
HonsDeanOKState
@HonsDeanOKState
Thanks to Emily Justiss for this
Intelligence is knowing Frankenstein *isn’t* the monster.
Wisdom is knowing Frankenstein *is* the monster.
7:21 PM - 11 Aug 2014
Reddit—Books
“Knowledge is knowing that Frankenstein is not the monster. Wisdom is knowing that Frankenstein is the monster.” (self.books)
submitted September 1, 2014 by magino
Twitter
Bex April May
@bexlectric
‘Knowledge is knowing that Frankenstein isn’t the monster. Wisdom is knowing that Frankenstein is the monster.’
2:29 PM - 27 Sep 2014
Google Groups: Hyde Park Community Players
Arcadia Set Build [11/1 & 11/2]
Dan Heinz
10/28/14
(...)
Intelligence is knowing that Frankenstein is not the name of the monster;
Wisdom is knowing that Frankenstein is the name of the monster.
Reddit—DnD
Knowledge vs. Wisdom (self.DnD)
submitted May 1, 2015 by NULL_pntr
Found this in an askreddit thread. Thought it belonged here.
Knowledge is knowing that Frankenstein wasn’t the monster.
Wisdom is knowing that Frankenstein was the monster.
Reddit—Quotes
“Knowledge is knowing that Frankenstein is not the monster. Wisdom is knowing that Frankenstein is the monster.” (self.quotes)
submitted October 4, 2015 by dreyco
COMMENTS
kellenthehun
I always heard it as, “Knowledge is knowing Frankenstein is the doctor. Wisdom is knowing Frankenstein is the monster.”
OP wording seems strange, but it could just be because I’m not used to it. Great quote either way!
booomfox
I’ve always heard is, “Knowledge is knowing Frankenstein is not the monster. Wisdom is knowing that he is.”
Which is basically identical to OP’s, but I think it flows a little better.
Houston (TX) Press
Mary Shelley Biopic Explores the Nature of Monsters
JEF ROUNER | JUNE 8, 2018 | 7:00AM
There’s an old joke that goes, “Intelligence is knowing that Frankenstein ISN’T the monster. Wisdom is knowing that Frankenstein IS the monster.” Director Haifaa Al-Mansour’s Mary Shelley is the perfect expression of that joke.