--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always admire people who have the…" description: "\"“I always admire people who have the courage to confront the conventional wisdom - I mean, people within the system. Those of us on the outside, it's e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/bill-james-9028_conventional-wisdom_i-always-admire-people-who-have-the-cour_1651054.jpg" --- # I always admire people who have the courage to confront… ![“I always admire people who have the courage to confront the conventional wisdom - I mean, people within the system. Those of us on the outside, it's easy for us to say whatever we think, because there are no consequences to it. It's much harder to say, "I think the conventional wisdom is full of…” quote by Bill James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/bill-james-9028_conventional-wisdom_i-always-admire-people-who-have-the-cour_1651054.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/bill-james-9028_conventional-wisdom_i-always-admire-people-who-have-the-cour_1651054.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/bill-james-9028_conventional-wisdom_i-always-admire-people-who-have-the-cour_1651054.jpg) > ““I always admire people who have the courage to confront the conventional wisdom - I mean, people within the system. Those of us on the outside, it's easy for us to say whatever we think, because there are no consequences to it. It's much harder to say, "I think the conventional wisdom is full of beans, and I'm not going to go along with it," when you're inside the system and exposed to the possibility of actual failure. I think the people who do this drive the world to get better, whereas the people who snipe at anybody who dares suggest that the conventional wisdom is malarkey are, in my view, gutless conspirators in the mediocrity of the universe.”” [Bill James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages challenging entrenched ideas from within institutions despite personal risk, driving progress. **In simple terms:** Question norms even when risky. Key Takeaway Take bold stands inside systems. Themes courage innovation critique Mood determined critical Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - Corporate reform - policy debate - academic research - creative ventures Key Concepts Systemic inertia risk tolerance Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards support internal critics? - When does dissent become counterproductive? A Different Perspective Risk of retaliation may deter dissent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conventional wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conventional-wisdom/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Mean people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean-people/) [Think Conventional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-conventional-654626/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wisdom Malarkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom-malarkey-654630/) [Wisdom Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom-mean-654628/) ## Related quotes > [I think the conventional wisdom is vastly true. There will be a huge growth in mobile, and this is something we are witnessing every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-levy/i-think-the-conventional-wisdom-is-vastly-true-there-will-be-a-huge/) [Maurice Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-levy/) > [“Many books mean many teachers; many teachers mean many paths and many paths mean many wisdom and many wisdom mean many lives! Yes, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/many-books-mean-many-teachers-many-teachers-mean-many-paths-and-many/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The moral of the story is this: It takes an ill-advised mix of ignorance, arrogance, and profit motive to dismiss the wisdom of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/the-moral-of-the-story-is-this-it-takes-an-ill-advised-mix-of/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [I think in conventional magazine wisdom, you need to have a redesign every decade or so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-white/i-think-in-conventional-magazine-wisdom-you-need-to-have-a-redesign/) [Timothy White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-white/) > [I don't think I take risks. People think I do, but I don't. In fact, I think conventional-formula filmmakers take more risks than me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-gopal-varma/i-don-t-think-i-take-risks-people-think-i-do-but-i-don-t-in-fact-i/) [Ram Gopal Varma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-gopal-varma/) > [Conventional wisdom on government's role in inequality often has it backwards. Tax reforms have resulted in a more progressive federal income tax; government transfer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/conventional-wisdom-on-government-s-role-in-inequality-often-has-it/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [“If you're careful to listen to your instincts and question conventional wisdom, set priorities, and make thoughtful choices, eventually you will figure out how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-dickinson/if-you-re-careful-to-listen-to-your-instincts-and-question/) [Arlene Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-dickinson/) > [All conventional wisdom has an element of truth to it, but good design requires more than an element of truth - it requires an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/all-conventional-wisdom-has-an-element-of-truth-to-it-but-good-design/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) > [Hurricane Katrina overwhelmed levees and exploded the conventional wisdom about a shared American prosperity, exposing a group of people so poor they didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/hurricane-katrina-overwhelmed-levees-and-exploded-the-conventional/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [“It is hard to find many better examples of values-first leadership than Ventura, California-based outdoor clothing company Patagonia. For more than 30 years, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-de-haaff/it-is-hard-to-find-many-better-examples-of-values-first-leadership/) [Brian de Haaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-de-haaff/) > [“You have to remain critically vigilant.” Question every premise, challenge conventional wisdom, and never accept the truth of something merely because everyone else views…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/you-have-to-remain-critically-vigilant-question-every-premise/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [What's different now is that while political leaders used to give talking points to talk radio, now talk-radio hosts are giving talking points to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/what-s-different-now-is-that-while-political-leaders-used-to-give/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [“Ferguson also takes a swipe at the conventional wisdom surrounding aspects of World War I. “The key to the Allies’ victory was not an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-williams/ferguson-also-takes-a-swipe-at-the-conventional-wisdom-surrounding/) [Luke Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-williams/) > [Contrarian thinking at its best simply asks, Is this really true? It speaks up when the politically correct answer or the conventional wisdom doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-osborne/contrarian-thinking-at-its-best-simply-asks-is-this-really-true-it/) [Larry Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-osborne/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) ## More by Bill James > [“Until about 1970 when parents beat their children to death they very often escaped punishment. They would be prosecuted if it was clear and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-james/until-about-1970-when-parents-beat-their-children-to-death-they-very/) [Bill James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-james/) > [Professionalism in medicine has given us medial miracles for the affluent but hospitals that will charge $35 for aspirin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-james/professionalism-in-medicine-has-given-us-medial-miracles-for-the/) [Bill James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-james/) > [When I was a small kid, I grew up in the newspapers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-james/when-i-was-a-small-kid-i-grew-up-in-the-newspapers/) [Bill James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-james/) > [“I’m sort of a baseball agnostic; I make it a point never to believe anything just because it is widely known to be so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-james/i-m-sort-of-a-baseball-agnostic-i-make-it-a-point-never-to-believe/) [Bill James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-james/) > [I do have a family, and obviously I spend as much time as I can with them. Though even when I'm with my family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-james/i-do-have-a-family-and-obviously-i-spend-as-much-time-as-i-can-with/) [Bill James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-james/) > [“Words are useful, sir. That's from the communicating point of view. They come into their own then. When you think about it, even Morse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-james/words-are-useful-sir-that-s-from-the-communicating-point-of-view-they/) [Bill James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-james/) > [We need new athletes all the time because we need new games every day - fudging just a little on the definition of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-james/we-need-new-athletes-all-the-time-because-we-need-new-games-every-day/) [Bill James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-james/) > [We don't genuinely need more literary geniuses. One can only read so many books in a lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-james/we-don-t-genuinely-need-more-literary-geniuses-one-can-only-read-so/) [Bill James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-james/) > [Visualizing the movement finally got me over the top after months of practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-james/visualizing-the-movement-finally-got-me-over-the-top-after-months-of/) [Bill James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-james/) > [I try to take large, general questions that are difficult to resolve and break them down into small, very specific questions that have clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-james/i-try-to-take-large-general-questions-that-are-difficult-to-resolve/) [Bill James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-james/) > [There comes a moment during a job interview when you're still talking, but you might as well take off your shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-james/there-comes-a-moment-during-a-job-interview-when-you-re-still-talking/) [Bill James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-james/) > [There are, I believe, many more false confessions to murders than true confessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-james/there-are-i-believe-many-more-false-confessions-to-murders-than-true/) [Bill James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-james/) > [(Mantle) was clearly a greater player in his peak years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-james/mantle-was-clearly-a-greater-player-in-his-peak-years/) [Bill James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-james/) > [Our society is very, very good at developing certain types of skills and certain types of genius. We are fantastically good at identifying and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-james/our-society-is-very-very-good-at-developing-certain-types-of-skills/) [Bill James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-james/) > [A chart of numbers that would put an actuary to sleep can be made to dance if you put it on one side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-james/a-chart-of-numbers-that-would-put-an-actuary-to-sleep-can-be-made-to/) [Bill James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-james/) [Explore all 76 Bill James quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-james/) ## More Conventional wisdom quotes > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [Contrarian thinking at its best simply asks, Is this really true? It speaks up when the politically correct answer or the conventional wisdom doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-osborne/contrarian-thinking-at-its-best-simply-asks-is-this-really-true-it/) [Larry Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-osborne/) > [“Ferguson also takes a swipe at the conventional wisdom surrounding aspects of World War I. “The key to the Allies’ victory was not an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-williams/ferguson-also-takes-a-swipe-at-the-conventional-wisdom-surrounding/) [Luke Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-williams/) > [What's different now is that while political leaders used to give talking points to talk radio, now talk-radio hosts are giving talking points to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/what-s-different-now-is-that-while-political-leaders-used-to-give/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [“You have to remain critically vigilant.” Question every premise, challenge conventional wisdom, and never accept the truth of something merely because everyone else views…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/you-have-to-remain-critically-vigilant-question-every-premise/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“It is hard to find many better examples of values-first leadership than Ventura, California-based outdoor clothing company Patagonia. For more than 30 years, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-de-haaff/it-is-hard-to-find-many-better-examples-of-values-first-leadership/) [Brian de Haaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-de-haaff/) > [Hurricane Katrina overwhelmed levees and exploded the conventional wisdom about a shared American prosperity, exposing a group of people so poor they didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/hurricane-katrina-overwhelmed-levees-and-exploded-the-conventional/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [All conventional wisdom has an element of truth to it, but good design requires more than an element of truth - it requires an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/all-conventional-wisdom-has-an-element-of-truth-to-it-but-good-design/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) > [“If you're careful to listen to your instincts and question conventional wisdom, set priorities, and make thoughtful choices, eventually you will figure out how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-dickinson/if-you-re-careful-to-listen-to-your-instincts-and-question/) [Arlene Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-dickinson/) > [Conventional wisdom on government's role in inequality often has it backwards. Tax reforms have resulted in a more progressive federal income tax; government transfer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/conventional-wisdom-on-government-s-role-in-inequality-often-has-it/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [The line that I am urging as today's conventional wisdom is not a denial of consciousness. It is often called, with more reason, arepudiation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willard-van-orman-quine/the-line-that-i-am-urging-as-today-s-conventional-wisdom-is-not-a/) [Willard Van Orman Quine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willard-van-orman-quine/) > [Conventional wisdom tells us we'll only be happier after a divorce if the marriage itself was a war zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/conventional-wisdom-tells-us-we-ll-only-be-happier-after-a-divorce-if/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [“What is carved on rocks were away in time. What is told from mouth to mouth will live forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vietnamese/what-is-carved-on-rocks-were-away-in-time-what-is-told-from-mouth-to/) [Vietnamese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vietnamese/) > [Science is based on experiment, on a willingness to challenge old dogma, on an openness to see the universe as it really is. Accordingly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/science-is-based-on-experiment-on-a-willingness-to-challenge-old/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“For all the tenure of humans on Earth, the night sky had been a companion and an inspiration. The stars were comforting. They seemed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/for-all-the-tenure-of-humans-on-earth-the-night-sky-had-been-a/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) [Browse all 249 Conventional wisdom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conventional-wisdom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I always admire people who have the courage to confront the conventional wisdom - I mean, people within the system. Those of us on the outside, it's easy for us to say whatever we think, because there are no consequences to it. It's much harder to say, \"I think the conventional wisdom is full of beans, and I'm not going to go along with it,\" when you're inside the system and exposed to the possibility of actual failure. 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