The Comrade Guide asked His three companions: "How do these differ: to say 'I know,' 'I don't know' and 'I assume'?"   "Well, how indeed?" The first said to himself. He knows he does not know; Let's say that's what 'I don't know' means.   "They're all the same!" Answered the second. No difference, he thinks. And that's what 'I assume' means.   The third said: "To know is to be more certain; To say 'I don't know' is to confront a nothing - a blank; And 'To assume' is an erroneous frame of mind."   A world of difference exists, So he went on, among each Of these three ways Of thinking.   "While we mistake assuming For knowing, All we reap is error, Failure or damage.   "To say 'I don't know' In regard to things important Is to be willing to look closer; It is the first step of knowing.   "When you know, You have a basis for acting By which you might succeed- a foothold And perspective for examining things.   "Truly the three stand apart. And so do guesses, rumors and imaginings, And all our subjunctives."   And the Guide said, "That's right, So it is! It is more valuable to know With certainty than grope for answers." And you, do you think they're right?