know how, n.All

Know-how (n.) can ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠arrive before the problem it was made for: a skill with no object to work on invents a substitute and goes to play.

Know-how (n.) cut ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠loose from thought would leave us slaves not of our machines but of our cleverness, at the mercy of every gadget that can be built, however murderous.

Know-how (n.) frees ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠where knowledge binds: knowledge fits you into the order of things you know, but know-how lets you win the argument and survive the next regime.