--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do not believe in any wise man until I…" description: "\"“I do not believe in any wise man until I have heard him say > three times and > two times.”\" — Alphonse Karr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bf/alphonse-karr-16999_three-times_i-do-not-believe-in-any-wise-man-until-i_80544.jpg" --- # I do not believe in any wise man until I have heard him… ![“I do not believe in any wise man until I have heard him say > three times and > two times.” quote by Alphonse Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bf/alphonse-karr-16999_three-times_i-do-not-believe-in-any-wise-man-until-i_80544.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bf/alphonse-karr-16999_three-times_i-do-not-believe-in-any-wise-man-until-i_80544.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bf/alphonse-karr-16999_three-times_i-do-not-believe-in-any-wise-man-until-i_80544.jpg) > ““I do not believe in any wise man until I have heard him say << I doubt it>> three times and << I don’t know >> two times.”” [Alphonse Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-karr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Skepticism toward authority; requires repeated doubt and admission of ignorance before granting wisdom. **In simple terms:** Wisdom demands repeated doubt and humility. Key Takeaway True insight shows through questioning and uncertainty. Themes skepticism humility critical thinking authority wisdom Mood thoughtful cautious inquisitive Type aphorism observation philosophical When to use this quote - evaluating leaders - academic debate - personal decision‑making - media consumption - peer review Key Concepts doubt self-awareness intellectual honesty Practical Applications - leadership assessment - educational curricula Questions to Reflect On - How does repeated doubt affect trust? - When should we accept expertise without questioning? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-man/) ## Related quotes > [“Many a man would rather you heard his story than grant his request.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/many-a-man-would-rather-you-heard-his-story-than-grant-his-request/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“They say a deaf man heard a dumb man talking about a blind man who saw a cripple walking the tightrope.” He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-perutz/they-say-a-deaf-man-heard-a-dumb-man-talking-about-a-blind-man-who/) [Leo Perutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-perutz/) > [“For such is the nature of man, that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more eloquent, or more learned;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/for-such-is-the-nature-of-man-that-howsoever-they-may-acknowledge/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [The wisest man is he who does not believe he is wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/the-wisest-man-is-he-who-does-not-believe-he-is-wise/) Proverb > [A wise man has heard,faced and learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniyal-butt/a-wise-man-has-heard-faced-and-learned/) [Daniyal Butt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniyal-butt/) > [“Across town, Mr. Henderson—the man who had heard the banshee’s silent scream—spent the evening dying. To be more accurate, he spent a very brief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ritter/across-town-mr-henderson-the-man-who-had-heard-the-banshee-s-silent/) [William Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ritter/) > [Non est, crede mihi, sapientis dicere 'Vivam': Sera nimis vita est crastina: vive hodie. Believe me, wise men don't say 'I shall live to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/non-est-crede-mihi-sapientis-dicere-vivam-sera-nimis-vita-est/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [“You believe me wise because I taught you once, but I have not been north, as you have. You have seen (what) I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/you-believe-me-wise-because-i-taught-you-once-but-i-have-not-been/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [“One bright day in the middle of the night, two dead boys got up to fight. They drew their swords and shot each other.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cinda-williams-chima/one-bright-day-in-the-middle-of-the-night-two-dead-boys-got-up-to/) [Cinda Williams Chima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cinda-williams-chima/) > [“I’ve come to believe that wise people don’t tell us what to do; they start by witnessing our story. They take the anecdotes, rationalizations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-ve-come-to-believe-that-wise-people-don-t-tell-us-what-to-do-they/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [Two packs of cigarettes a day, e strongest whiskey Kentucky can make. That's a recipe to put a vagabond On his hands and knees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinedown/two-packs-of-cigarettes-a-day-e-strongest-whiskey-kentucky-can-make/) [Shinedown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinedown/) > [“It may be laid down as a general rule to which there are few exceptions that, when people are mistaken as to what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/it-may-be-laid-down-as-a-general-rule-to-which-there-are-few/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Such is the nature of men, that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more eloquent, or more learned; yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/such-is-the-nature-of-men-that-howsoever-they-may-acknowledge-many/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [“My path will weave The way you say There is no doubt You'll create the way”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-brien/my-path-will-weave-the-way-you-say-there-is-no-doubt-you-ll-create/) [William O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-brien/) > [“I hear you’re a medicine man. I heard you are a singer of the Blessing Way. Is that right?” Chee looked slightly stubborn. “Yes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hillerman/i-hear-you-re-a-medicine-man-i-heard-you-are-a-singer-of-the-blessing/) [Tony Hillerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hillerman/) ## More by Alphonse Karr > [The more it changes, the more it's the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-karr/the-more-it-changes-the-more-it-s-the-same-thing/) [Alphonse Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-karr/) > [The more things change, the more they are the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-karr/the-more-things-change-the-more-they-are-the-same/) [Alphonse Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-karr/) > [We can invent only with memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-karr/we-can-invent-only-with-memory/) [Alphonse Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-karr/) > [Uncertainty is the worst of all evils until the moment when reality makes us regret uncertainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-karr/uncertainty-is-the-worst-of-all-evils-until-the-moment-when-reality/) [Alphonse Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-karr/) > [If women only knew the extent of their power!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-karr/if-women-only-knew-the-extent-of-their-power/) [Alphonse Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-karr/) > [If men knew all that women think, they'd be twenty times more daring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-karr/if-men-knew-all-that-women-think-they-d-be-twenty-times-more-daring/) [Alphonse Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-karr/) > [Love in marriage should be the accomplishment of a beautiful dream, and not, as it too often is, the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-karr/love-in-marriage-should-be-the-accomplishment-of-a-beautiful-dream/) [Alphonse Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-karr/) > [If men knew all that women think, they would be twenty times more audacious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-karr/if-men-knew-all-that-women-think-they-would-be-twenty-times-more/) [Alphonse Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-karr/) > [I gather from a lawyer that there was a rehearsal yesterday. We haven't a hope. I know the presiding judge too: I've had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-karr/i-gather-from-a-lawyer-that-there-was-a-rehearsal-yesterday-we-haven/) [Alphonse Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-karr/) > [Dress is the great business of all women, and the fixed idea of some.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-karr/dress-is-the-great-business-of-all-women-and-the-fixed-idea-of-some/) [Alphonse Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-karr/) > [The more the change, the more it is the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-karr/the-more-the-change-the-more-it-is-the-same-thing/) [Alphonse Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-karr/) > [Botany is the art of insulting flowers in Greek and Latin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-karr/botany-is-the-art-of-insulting-flowers-in-greek-and-latin/) [Alphonse Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-karr/) > [Avoid all haste; calmness is an essential ingredient of politeness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-karr/avoid-all-haste-calmness-is-an-essential-ingredient-of-politeness/) [Alphonse Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-karr/) > [Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-karr/some-people-are-always-grumbling-because-roses-have-thorns-i-am/) [Alphonse Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-karr/) > [Love is the most terrible, and also the most generous of the passions; it is the only one which includes in its dreams the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-karr/love-is-the-most-terrible-and-also-the-most-generous-of-the-passions/) [Alphonse Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-karr/) [Explore all 36 Alphonse Karr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-karr/) ## More Doubt quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. The moment one begins to doubt the knowledge that, 'I am Chandubhai,' misery arises. Once one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-is-doubt-shanka-there-is-misery-the-moment-one-begins-to/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Vision motivates, sustains and dispels doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-young/vision-motivates-sustains-and-dispels-doubt/) [Thomas Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-young/) > [One may not doubt that, somehow Good Shall come of Water and of Mud; And sure, the reverent eye must see A purpose in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-brooke/one-may-not-doubt-that-somehow-good-shall-come-of-water-and-of-mud/) [Rupert Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-brooke/) > [Let smiles overshadow sadness. Let faith make you believe. Let confidence wash away doubts. Let love complete your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/let-smiles-overshadow-sadness-let-faith-make-you-believe-let/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [When in doubt, suggest that a subcommittee be appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapman/when-in-doubt-suggest-that-a-subcommittee-be-appointed/) Harry Chapman > [“Those who contemplate never escape the doubt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/those-who-contemplate-never-escape-the-doubt/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) [Browse all 9,582 Doubt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I do not believe in any wise man until I have heard him say << I doubt it>> three times and << I don’t know >> two times.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alphonse Karr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-karr/i-do-not-believe-in-any-wise-man-until-i-have-heard-him-say-i-doubt/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doubt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-karr/i-do-not-believe-in-any-wise-man-until-i-have-heard-him-say-i-doubt/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bf/alphonse-karr-16999_three-times_i-do-not-believe-in-any-wise-man-until-i_80544.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bf/alphonse-karr-16999_three-times_i-do-not-believe-in-any-wise-man-until-i_80544.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bf/alphonse-karr-16999_three-times_i-do-not-believe-in-any-wise-man-until-i_80544.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I do not believe in any wise man until I have heard him say > three times and > two times.” — Alphonse Karr", "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": "Alphonse Karr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-karr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I do not believe in any...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-karr/i-do-not-believe-in-any-wise-man-until-i-have-heard-him-say-i-doubt/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-karr/i-do-not-believe-in-any-wise-man-until-i-have-heard-him-say-i-doubt/#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 } } ] } ```