Is Imagination more important than Knowledge?

Albert Einstein said in one of his interviews "Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world". It is true, knowledge alone without any imagination is very limited and many things that we know of today would not have been discovered at all without imagination.

But is it just enough to have imagination? Don't we need to have awareness or knowledge of facts to improvise and develop on? Knowledge is something that provides people with facts. It is acquired through experience or education. It is the practical understanding or foundation to any subject. This helps people to judge between right and wrong, between reality and fantasy.

Imagination on the other hand provides meaning to this knowledge or experience that was acquired and helps people make sense of this world. Imagination is the creative ability to think and dream. Creativity is what gave birth to a lot of brilliant artists, writers and inventors in this world. I think imagination is like a new brick that is laid on top of the foundation called knowledge.  

So, I think that imagination and knowledge go hand in hand. Without knowledge imagination cannot be built, any great imagination needs anchoring of reality, just a little pull back when imagination goes over board. Then again when imagination ceases, knowledge comes to a standstill. 

Imagination might be the one that gives birth to new discoveries, but knowledge validates these imaginations.