Exaggerating Quote by Daniel J. Boorstin
“It is only a short step from exaggerating what we can find in the world to exaggerating our power to remake the world.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Discoverers, 1992
We tend to overstate our ability to control reality after overestimating what we observe.
In simple terms: We exaggerate our power after exaggerating what we see.
Stay realistic about influence.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- scientific research
- policy making
- personal ambition
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does overconfidence affect decision making?
- What checks can curb inflated self‑belief?
Our capacity to reshape the world is limited by unknown unknowns.