There are multiple levels in which I agree with the above sentiment. Some of my teachers had these quotations to encourage questions!

1) If you say you dont understand, you may appear to be a fool for a few minutes, if you pretend to understand (while you dont)... you are a fool for life.

2) To learn something knew, you have to set your ego(pretending to know lest you appear ignorant) aside and start humbly with basics.