Without feeling abashed by my ignorance, I confess that I am absolutely unable to say. In the absence of an appearance of learning, my answer has at least one merit, that of perfect sincerity.

Summary

The quote expresses a humble acknowledgment of one's lack of knowledge or understanding on a particular matter. It highlights the absence of pretense and the honesty of admitting ignorance, where the individual does not feel ashamed or embarrassed by their lack of knowledge. By acknowledging their ignorance, they argue that their response, although lacking expertise, possesses the merit of complete sincerity. Thus, the quote emphasizes the value of being honest about one's limitations in knowledge rather than pretending to know something or offer false expertise.

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