Believe Quote by Bertrand Russell
“The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt. Even those of the intelligent who believe that they have a nostrum are too individualistic to combine with other intelligent men from whom they differ on minor points.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Problems of Philosophy", 1912
Intelligent people doubt themselves while the ignorant are overconfident, leading to fragmented collaboration among thinkers.
In simple terms: Smart people doubt; fools are sure.
Key Takeaway
Embrace humility and seek diverse perspectives.
Themes
humility
confidence
collaboration
intelligence
doubt
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- academic research
- team projects
- policy making
- public discourse
Key Concepts
Epistemology
social psychology
group dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we encourage doubt without paralysis?
- What structures foster collaborative synthesis?
A Different Perspective
Overconfidence can be rationalized as competence, limiting self‑critique.
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)
