Comment by wwarner

There are two authors here, since the post contains an inset about dealing with your own ignorance by another professor. They aren't saying quite the same thing. The inset is saying that every grad student will confront their "absolute ignorance" and it will be difficult, scary and possibly painful. The author of the post is saying it can be a source of joy. I suppose they can be reconciled. It could also be that so little of our behavior is based on knowledge that the only sane reaction is at least somewhat negative, whether characterized by being overwhelmed, or sad, or detached.