--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Blind certainty, a close-mindedness that…" description: "\"Blind certainty, a close-mindedness that amounts to an imprisonment so total that the prisoner doesn't even know he's locked up.\" — David Foster" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/david-foster-21558_blind_blind-certainty-a-close-mindedness-that_1777925.jpg" --- # Blind certainty, a close-mindedness that amounts to an… ![“Blind certainty, a close-mindedness that amounts to an imprisonment so total that the prisoner doesn't even know he's locked up.” quote by David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/david-foster-21558_blind_blind-certainty-a-close-mindedness-that_1777925.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/david-foster-21558_blind_blind-certainty-a-close-mindedness-that_1777925.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/david-foster-21558_blind_blind-certainty-a-close-mindedness-that_1777925.jpg) > “Blind certainty, a close-mindedness that amounts to an imprisonment so total that the prisoner doesn't even know he's locked up.” [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Overconfidence creates a mental prison, blinding individuals to their own limitations and preventing growth. **In simple terms:** Blind certainty traps you. Key Takeaway Question assumptions to stay open. Themes confidence ignorance freedom Mood cautious introspective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - decision making - leadership training - personal development Key Concepts cognitive bias self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - What beliefs might be limiting you? - How can you test your assumptions? A Different Perspective Overcoming certainty can be uncomfortable and destabilizing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind/) [Blind Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind-certainty-1836779/) [Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) [Close mindedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/close-mindedness/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Imprisonment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imprisonment/) [Locked up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/locked-up/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Prisoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prisoner/) [Prisoner Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prisoner-doesn-509146/) ## Related quotes > [“The best kind of prisoner is one who doesn’t even know he’s in prison.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/the-best-kind-of-prisoner-is-one-who-doesn-t-even-know-he-s-in-prison/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [Three hundred years ago a prisoner condemned to the Tower of London carved on the wall of his cell this sentiment to keep up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-keller/three-hundred-years-ago-a-prisoner-condemned-to-the-tower-of-london/) [James Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-keller/) > [No person shall be restrained of his liberty but by regular process from a court of justice, authorized by a general law. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/no-person-shall-be-restrained-of-his-liberty-but-by-regular-process/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Ours is a civil fight, and imprisonment as a civil prisoner has got to be earned by the strict observance of the programme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/ours-is-a-civil-fight-and-imprisonment-as-a-civil-prisoner-has-got-to/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Psychological imprisonment was no less uncomfortable than its physical counterpart. 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They no longer listen to others who do not share their views and beliefs. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-randymar/close-minded-people-think-they-know-the-whole-truth-already-they-no/) [Joel Randymar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-randymar/) > [Closing your mind to religion is no different than the close-mindedness that religions can cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-mellick-iii/closing-your-mind-to-religion-is-no-different-than-the-close/) [Carlton Mellick III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-mellick-iii/) > [It does take great maturity to understand that the opinion we are arguing for is merely the hypothesis we favor, necessarily imperfect, probably transitory,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/it-does-take-great-maturity-to-understand-that-the-opinion-we-are/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“She was not only unable to make the least allowance for a divergence from this way, but utterly unable to conceive that another existed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-robert-maturin/she-was-not-only-unable-to-make-the-least-allowance-for-a-divergence/) [Charles Robert Maturin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-robert-maturin/) > [“... But these skeptics are only selectively skeptical. They think themselves enlightened for resisting all this new proof and remaining steadfast in mistrusting anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-ilgunas/but-these-skeptics-are-only-selectively-skeptical-they-think/) [Ken Ilgunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-ilgunas/) ## More by David Foster > [It is unimaginably hard to do this, to stay conscious and alive, day in and day out,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/it-is-unimaginably-hard-to-do-this-to-stay-conscious-and-alive-day-in/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [CPR to those elements of what’s human and magical that still live and glow despite the times’ darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/cpr-to-those-elements-of-what-s-human-and-magical-that-still-live-and/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [We all suffer alone in the real world; true empathy's impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/we-all-suffer-alone-in-the-real-world-true-empathy-s-impossible/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [I think that most of my romance comes out in my music. And if you look at my track record of three ex-wives, maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/i-think-that-most-of-my-romance-comes-out-in-my-music-and-if-you-look/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [How totally banal of you to ask what I really mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/how-totally-banal-of-you-to-ask-what-i-really-mean/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [I've noticed that, while I can't help but respect and sort of envy the moral nerve of people who truly do not care what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/i-ve-noticed-that-while-i-can-t-help-but-respect-and-sort-of-envy-the/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [It seems like the big difference between good art and so-so art lies somewhere in the art's heart's purpose, the agenda of the consciousness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/it-seems-like-the-big-difference-between-good-art-and-so-so-art-lies/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [Try to let what is unfair teach you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/try-to-let-what-is-unfair-teach-you/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [Ya' know, these days kids seem to be getting younger and younger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/ya-know-these-days-kids-seem-to-be-getting-younger-and-younger/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [I am uncompromising to the point of huge dissension in the studio. And it's served me very well. My theory and my philosophy is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/i-am-uncompromising-to-the-point-of-huge-dissension-in-the-studio-and/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [This is what the real, no bullshit value of your liberal arts education is supposed to be about: how to keep from going through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/this-is-what-the-real-no-bullshit-value-of-your-liberal-arts/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [I don’t really mean what I’m saying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/i-don-t-really-mean-what-i-m-saying/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [The really important kind of freedom involves being able truly to care about other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/the-really-important-kind-of-freedom-involves-being-able-truly-to/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [I told Celine Dion not to record that 'Titanic' song. That's about as big as you can get. 'Flashdance?' I thought, 'Welder by day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/i-told-celine-dion-not-to-record-that-titanic-song-that-s-about-as/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [Commerce and art are natural enemies. And also, the enemy of good is great. And the enemy of great is good, so there's this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/commerce-and-art-are-natural-enemies-and-also-the-enemy-of-good-is/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) [Explore all 29 David Foster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) ## More Blind quotes > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Love is so blind, it feels right when it's wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/love-is-so-blind-it-feels-right-when-it-s-wrong/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [... Arthur Gride, whose bleared eyes gloated only over the outward beauties, and were blind to the spirit which reigned within, evinced - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/arthur-gride-whose-bleared-eyes-gloated-only-over-the-outward/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“A man who saw has turned blind, A hearer deaf, A leader now leads astray!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-lichtheim/a-man-who-saw-has-turned-blind-a-hearer-deaf-a-leader-now-leads-astray/) [Miriam Lichtheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-lichtheim/) > [“What I shall feel to-morrow I cannot tell. Maybe I shall go blind again, for women are never two days alike in their minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-parker/what-i-shall-feel-to-morrow-i-cannot-tell-maybe-i-shall-go-blind/) [Gilbert Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-parker/) > [Now the stage today is to know that Self Realization gives you experiences and then your faith is established. Not blind but open enlightened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/now-the-stage-today-is-to-know-that-self-realization-gives-you/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [The more I produce, the less I am certain. On the road along which the artist walks, night falls ever more densely. Finally, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-more-i-produce-the-less-i-am-certain-on-the-road-along-which-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“The heart’s blind. It’s the head that causes all the trouble. Sometimes both are stupid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-bromberg/the-heart-s-blind-it-s-the-head-that-causes-all-the-trouble-sometimes/) [K. Bromberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-bromberg/) > [“In the story of the blind men and the elephant, what’s usually ignored is the fact that each man’s description was correct. What Faye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/in-the-story-of-the-blind-men-and-the-elephant-what-s-usually-ignored/) [Nathan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-hill/) > [My favorite performance would definitely be "Toxic," which was my blind audition song. It was the start of it all and it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-martinez/my-favorite-performance-would-definitely-be-toxic-which-was-my-blind/) [Melanie Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-martinez/) > [Our attitude towards evil must be freed from hatred, and has itself need to be enlightened in character...Satan rejoices when he succeeds in inspiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolai-berdyaev/our-attitude-towards-evil-must-be-freed-from-hatred-and-has-itself/) [Nikolai Berdyaev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolai-berdyaev/) > [If you are the master be sometimes blind, if you are the servant be sometimes deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/if-you-are-the-master-be-sometimes-blind-if-you-are-the-servant-be/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [I'm glad I'm blind and can't see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/i-m-glad-i-m-blind-and-can-t-see-it/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [Shut your eyes and you will know what I mean by thought entombed in darkness. Light comes through the senses, and not only through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/shut-your-eyes-and-you-will-know-what-i-mean-by-thought-entombed-in/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [Blind with love, my daughter has cried nightly for horses, those long-necked marchers and churners that she has mastered, any and all, reigning them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/blind-with-love-my-daughter-has-cried-nightly-for-horses-those-long/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) [Browse all 3,877 Blind quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Blind certainty, a close-mindedness that amounts to an imprisonment so total that the prisoner doesn't even know he's locked up.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Foster" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/blind-certainty-a-close-mindedness-that-amounts-to-an-imprisonment-so/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blind" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/blind-certainty-a-close-mindedness-that-amounts-to-an-imprisonment-so/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/david-foster-21558_blind_blind-certainty-a-close-mindedness-that_1777925.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/david-foster-21558_blind_blind-certainty-a-close-mindedness-that_1777925.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/david-foster-21558_blind_blind-certainty-a-close-mindedness-that_1777925.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Blind certainty, a close-mindedness that amounts to an imprisonment so total that the prisoner doesn't even…” — David Foster", "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": "David Foster", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Blind certainty, a close-mindedness that amounts...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/blind-certainty-a-close-mindedness-that-amounts-to-an-imprisonment-so/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/blind-certainty-a-close-mindedness-that-amounts-to-an-imprisonment-so/#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 } } ] } ```