--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a…" description: "\"“Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shpwrecked by the laughter of the gods.”\" — Albert Einstein" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/albert-einstein-33_god_whoever-undertakes-to-set-himself-up-as_338477.jpg" --- # Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth… ![“Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shpwrecked by the laughter of the gods.” quote by Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/albert-einstein-33_god_whoever-undertakes-to-set-himself-up-as_338477.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/albert-einstein-33_god_whoever-undertakes-to-set-himself-up-as_338477.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/albert-einstein-33_god_whoever-undertakes-to-set-himself-up-as_338477.jpg) > ““Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shpwrecked by the laughter of the gods.”” [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Claiming authority over truth invites divine ridicule, highlighting human hubris. **In simple terms:** Thinking you know everything invites mockery. Key Takeaway Stay humble, question your certainty. Themes humility knowledge hubris Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic debate - personal decision making - public policy - media commentary Key Concepts epistemology divine irony Questions to Reflect On - Do you ever assume you know the truth? - How does humility improve learning? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can blind you to new evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) ## Related quotes > [“Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods." \[Preface to Brissot's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/whoever-undertakes-to-set-himself-up-as-a-judge-of-truth-and-2/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Whoever undertakes to set himself up as judge in the field of truth and knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the Gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/whoever-undertakes-to-set-himself-up-as-judge-in-the-field-of-truth/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“Isn't it only through laughter that we become one with the gods and thus can endure life and can overcome all the horror and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clavell/isn-t-it-only-through-laughter-that-we-become-one-with-the-gods-and-2/) [James Clavell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clavell/) > [Isn’t it only through laughter that we become one with the gods and thus can endure life and can overcome all the horror and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clavell/isn-t-it-only-through-laughter-that-we-become-one-with-the-gods-and/) [James Clavell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clavell/) > [“clever people will judge the truth according to its usefulness, not validity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juli-zeh/clever-people-will-judge-the-truth-according-to-its-usefulness-not/) [Juli Zeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juli-zeh/) > [“Your mind is your only judge of truth--and if others dissent your verdict, reality is the final court of appeal. John Galt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/your-mind-is-your-only-judge-of-truth-and-if-others-dissent-your/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [... the final judge was truth -- immortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-dark/the-final-judge-was-truth-immortal/) [Eleanor Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-dark/) > [Sincerity is not a test of truth. We must not make this mistake: He must be right; he's so sincere. Because, it is possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/sincerity-is-not-a-test-of-truth-we-must-not-make-this-mistake-he/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [“...I am discovering that it is truly a mistake--it may even be a moral wrong, in fact--to judge. Truth is too complex, too contradictory,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-pritchard/i-am-discovering-that-it-is-truly-a-mistake-it-may-even-be-a-moral/) [Melissa Pritchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-pritchard/) > [Sole judge of Truth, in endless Error hurled: / The glory, jest, and riddle of the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/sole-judge-of-truth-in-endless-error-hurled-the-glory-jest-and-riddle/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [The judge also has a truth he wants to hide: He often hasn't been completely candid in describing the facts or the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-judge-also-has-a-truth-he-wants-to-hide-he-often-hasn-t-been/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your mind is your only judge of truth-and if others dissent from your verdict, reality is the court of final appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galt/your-mind-is-your-only-judge-of-truth-and-if-others-dissent-from-your/) [John Galt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galt/) > [I think that only daring speculation can lead us further and not accumulation of facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/i-think-that-only-daring-speculation-can-lead-us-further-and-not/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-true-sign-of-intelligence-is-not-knowledge-but-imagination/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) ## More by Albert Einstein > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Common sense is nothing more than a deposit of prejudices laid down in the mind before you reach eighteen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/common-sense-is-nothing-more-than-a-deposit-of-prejudices-laid-down/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You imagine that I look back on my life's work with calm satisfaction. But from nearby it looks quite different. There is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/you-imagine-that-i-look-back-on-my-life-s-work-with-calm-satisfaction/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The strongest force in the universe is Compound Interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-strongest-force-in-the-universe-is-compound-interest/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The right to search for the truth implies also a duty; one must not conceal any part of what one has recognized to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-right-to-search-for-the-truth-implies-also-a-duty-one-must-not/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/everything-that-is-really-great-and-inspiring-is-created-by-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The world we have made is a result of the level of thinking we have done thus far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-world-we-have-made-is-a-result-of-the-level-of-thinking-we-have/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Anyone who thinks science is trying to make human life easier or more pleasant is utterly mistaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/anyone-who-thinks-science-is-trying-to-make-human-life-easier-or-more/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Life isn't worth living, unless it is lived for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/life-isn-t-worth-living-unless-it-is-lived-for-someone-else/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“Just because you don't believe in something doesn't mean it isn't true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/just-because-you-don-t-believe-in-something-doesn-t-mean-it-isn-t-true/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [But there is another reason for the high repute of mathematics: it is mathematics that offers the exact natural sciences a certain measure of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/but-there-is-another-reason-for-the-high-repute-of-mathematics-it-is/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/nothing-will-benefit-human-health-and-increase-the-chances-for/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) [Explore all 2,339 Albert Einstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) ## More God quotes > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [What would God have me do with my life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/what-would-god-have-me-do-with-my-life/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [God always gets the glory when Jesus comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/god-always-gets-the-glory-when-jesus-comes/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [You are a God Act like one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/you-are-a-god-act-like-one/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) [Browse all 37,707 God quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shpwrecked by the laughter of the gods.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Albert Einstein" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/whoever-undertakes-to-set-himself-up-as-a-judge-of-truth-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "God" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/whoever-undertakes-to-set-himself-up-as-a-judge-of-truth-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/albert-einstein-33_god_whoever-undertakes-to-set-himself-up-as_338477.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/albert-einstein-33_god_whoever-undertakes-to-set-himself-up-as_338477.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/albert-einstein-33_god_whoever-undertakes-to-set-himself-up-as_338477.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shpwrecked by the laughter of the…” — Albert Einstein", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Albert Einstein", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Whoever undertakes to set himself up...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/whoever-undertakes-to-set-himself-up-as-a-judge-of-truth-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/whoever-undertakes-to-set-himself-up-as-a-judge-of-truth-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```