Knowledge versus Understanding

Russell Ackoff, one of the pioneers in the field of Systems Thinking, stated that "you will never reach a complete explanation or understanding of everything, but your understanding increases the larger the system you comprehend. The knowledge increases the smaller the element you comprehend."

Note

Aleksis Tulonen: Ackoff and Systemic Thinking: http://aleksistulonen.com/2018/10/28/ackoff-and-systemic-thinking/.

This seems to imply that to know and to understand are not the same thing. So, what is the difference between the two? Let's see what the dictionary says:

To know: Be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information.

To understand: Perceive the significance, explanation, or cause of something.

Seeing solitary facts in relation to a general principle is the essence of understanding. What is an understanding then? An understanding is a generalized meaning or insight. An insight is a basic sense of, or feeling...