Certainty Quote by Bertrand Russell
“A habit of basing convictions upon evidence, and of giving to them only that degree or certainty which the evidence warrants, would, if it became general, cure most of the ills from which the world suffers.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Problems of Philosophy, Bertrand Russell, 1912
Basing beliefs on evidence and matching certainty to that evidence would broadly reduce many global problems.
In simple terms: Evidence‑based beliefs reduce many world problems.
Align convictions with evidence.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy making
- education
- public discourse
- research funding
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we handle uncertainty in evidence?
- What standards should guide belief formation?
Evidence can be limited or interpreted differently, leading to disagreement.