Physicist Marie Skłodowska Curie
Intellectual knowledge can be acquired either through accumulation or assimilation of accessible information. Those who follow the path of accumulation and can recall stored information on command are mostly considered subject matter experts. The knowledge thus gained is cherished and valued in modern society but remains inferior because it is merely a rendering of words read or heard.
On the other hand, those who follow the path of assimilation will absorb the information received, transform it and integrate it into the body of knowledge. However, since the knowledge acquired in this way is not aimed at retrieving original information, it is usually undervalued by today's standards. Yet, such knowledge is always superior and those who have mastered it are actually the real experts, even if they may not be recognized as such.