--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most people don't know what they're…" description: "\"Most people don't know what they're talking about. They move their mouth and say things because they don't want to admit they don't know. Or they think..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/derek-sivers-9939_assuming_most-people-don-t-know-what-they-re-talk_1433174.png" --- # Most people don't know what they're talking about. They… ![“Most people don't know what they're talking about. They move their mouth and say things because they don't want to admit they don't know. Or they think they know, but it's just confabulation and biases. So ignore them unless what they say resonates with some real wisdom inside of you. Assume…” quote by Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/derek-sivers-9939_assuming_most-people-don-t-know-what-they-re-talk_1433174.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/derek-sivers-9939_assuming_most-people-don-t-know-what-they-re-talk_1433174.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/derek-sivers-9939_assuming_most-people-don-t-know-what-they-re-talk_1433174.png) > “Most people don't know what they're talking about. They move their mouth and say things because they don't want to admit they don't know. Or they think they know, but it's just confabulation and biases. So ignore them unless what they say resonates with some real wisdom inside of you. Assume they're a fool and find out the truth for yourself.” [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often speak without knowledge, driven by ego or bias; it’s wiser to filter their words and seek personal truth. **In simple terms:** Ignore noisy opinions unless they contain real insight. Key Takeaway Question others, seek your own understanding. Themes critical thinking skepticism self-reliance Mood skeptical thoughtful analytical Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - team meetings - online debates - personal decision making Key Concepts cognitive bias confabulation truth seeking Questions to Reflect On - How do you distinguish noise from wisdom? - When should you trust others’ expertise? A Different Perspective Overlooks value of expert advice when properly vetted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assuming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) [Biases Ignore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biases-ignore-5107350/) [Confabulation Biases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confabulation-biases-5107351/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Know Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-talking/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Mouth Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouth-say-440390/) [Mouths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouths/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-wisdom/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Think Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-know/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“For the fear of death is indeed the pretense of wisdom, and not real wisdom, being a pretense of knowing the unknown; and no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/for-the-fear-of-death-is-indeed-the-pretense-of-wisdom-and-not-real/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [To know that you know, and to know that you don't know - that is real wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-know-that-you-know-and-to-know-that-you-don-t-know-that-is-real/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [“Life, said Samuel Butler, is like giving a concert on the violin while learning to play the instrument—that, friends, is real wisdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/life-said-samuel-butler-is-like-giving-a-concert-on-the-violin-while/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [Education is not confined to books, and the finest characters often graduate from no college, but make experience their master, and life their book.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/education-is-not-confined-to-books-and-the-finest-characters-often/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [ “\[M\]ost Americans are still drawing some water from the Christian well. But a growing number are inventing their own versions of what Christianity means,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-douthat/m-ost-americans-are-still-drawing-some-water-from-the-christian-well/) [Ross Douthat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-douthat/) > [..the real world's all we've got. Believers in the supernatural claim to have special wisdom about the world. But real wisdom means knowing truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stossel/the-real-world-s-all-we-ve-got-believers-in-the-supernatural-claim-to/) [John Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stossel/) > [The fear of death is indeed the pretence of wisdom, and not real wisdom, being the appearance of knowing the unknown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-fear-of-death-is-indeed-the-pretence-of-wisdom-and-not-real/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Know what you know and know that you don't know what you don't know — that is the characteristic of one who knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/know-what-you-know-and-know-that-you-don-t-know-what-you-don-t-know/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Real wisdom is simple. Living life rightly does not have to be a complicated challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/real-wisdom-is-simple-living-life-rightly-does-not-have-to-be-a/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [In the end, the real wisdom of menopause may be in questioning how fun or even sane this chore wheel called modern life actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-tsing-loh/in-the-end-the-real-wisdom-of-menopause-may-be-in-questioning-how-fun/) [Sandra Tsing Loh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-tsing-loh/) > [Real wisdom is not the knowledge of everything, but the knowledge of which things in life are necessary, which are less necessary, and which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/real-wisdom-is-not-the-knowledge-of-everything-but-the-knowledge-of-2/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Real wisdom is not the knowledge of everything, but the knowledge of which things in life are necessary, which are less necessary, and which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jaques-rousseau-2/real-wisdom-is-not-the-knowledge-of-everything-but-the-knowledge-of/) [Jean Jaques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jaques-rousseau-2/) > [As I have grown older I am more and more convinced that I have not grown up, that my powers have not come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corra-may-harris/as-i-have-grown-older-i-am-more-and-more-convinced-that-i-have-not/) [Corra May Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corra-may-harris/) > [The knowledge of the causal power of thought is the basis of all their (Hebrew) prophecies, as it is the basis of all real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/the-knowledge-of-the-causal-power-of-thought-is-the-basis-of-all/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [WISDOM IS dependent upon knowledge. Where there is complete ignorance there can be no wisdom, no knowledge of the right thing to do. Man’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-d-wattles/wisdom-is-dependent-upon-knowledge-where-there-is-complete-ignorance/) [Wallace D. Wattles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-d-wattles/) ## More by Derek Sivers > [It's only a little difficult to say no. You've got to believe that the work you're doing is ultimately more useful to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/it-s-only-a-little-difficult-to-say-no-you-ve-got-to-believe-that-the/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [Whatever excites you, go do it. Whatever drains you, stop doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/whatever-excites-you-go-do-it-whatever-drains-you-stop-doing-it/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [“Never forget that absolutely everything you do is for your customers. Make every decision—even decisions about whether to expand the business, raise money, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/never-forget-that-absolutely-everything-you-do-is-for-your-customers/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [Let’s never forget that whatever brilliant ideas you have or hear, that the opposite may also be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/let-s-never-forget-that-whatever-brilliant-ideas-you-have-or-hear/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [Making a company is a great way to improve the world while improving yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/making-a-company-is-a-great-way-to-improve-the-world-while-improving/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [I love that sometimes we need to go to the opposite side of the world to realize assumptions that we didn't even know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/i-love-that-sometimes-we-need-to-go-to-the-opposite-side-of-the-world/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [I realized why I need to start a new company. Not for the money. Not because I'm 'bored'. But because a company is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/i-realized-why-i-need-to-start-a-new-company-not-for-the-money-not/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [The first follower is actually an underestimated form of leadership in itself. … The first follower is what transforms a lone nut into a leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/the-first-follower-is-actually-an-underestimated-form-of-leadership/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [Pay close attention to when you're being the real you & when you're trying to impress an invisible jury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/pay-close-attention-to-when-you-re-being-the-real-you-when-you-re/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [Five years after I started CD Baby, when it was a big success, the media said I had revolutionized the music business. But 'revolution'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/five-years-after-i-started-cd-baby-when-it-was-a-big-success-the/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [Every time you're making a choice, one choice is the safe/comfortable choice - and one choice is the risky/uncomfortable choice. the risky/uncomfortable choice is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/every-time-you-re-making-a-choice-one-choice-is-the-safe-comfortable/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [Business is not about money. It's about making dreams come true for others and for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/business-is-not-about-money-it-s-about-making-dreams-come-true-for/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [Everyone who became great at something has a similar story: For years, they worked on their craft every day, even if they weren’t in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/everyone-who-became-great-at-something-has-a-similar-story-for-years/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [Don't be on your deathbed someday, having squandered your one chance at life, full of regret because you pursued little distractions instead of big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/don-t-be-on-your-deathbed-someday-having-squandered-your-one-chance/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [Make every decision—even decisions about whether to expand the business, raise money, or promote someone—according to what's best for your customers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/make-every-decision-even-decisions-about-whether-to-expand-the/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) [Explore all 69 Derek Sivers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) [James T. Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-conway/) > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [One must believe that every living thing whatsoever must change insensibly in its organization and in its form... One must therefore never expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-lamarck/one-must-believe-that-every-living-thing-whatsoever-must-change/) [Jean-Baptiste Lamarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-lamarck/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [People just assume that if you're famous, you're in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/people-just-assume-that-if-you-re-famous-you-re-in-hollywood/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [We can use our art to become political, to become something you want to talk about. We make clothes, but we have the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-rousteing/we-can-use-our-art-to-become-political-to-become-something-you-want/) [Olivier Rousteing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-rousteing/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) [Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most people don't know what they're talking about. They move their mouth and say things because they don't want to admit they don't know. Or they think they know, but it's just confabulation and biases. So ignore them unless what they say resonates with some real wisdom inside of you. Assume they're a fool and find out the truth for yourself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Derek Sivers" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/most-people-don-t-know-what-they-re-talking-about-they-move-their/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assuming" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/most-people-don-t-know-what-they-re-talking-about-they-move-their/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/derek-sivers-9939_assuming_most-people-don-t-know-what-they-re-talk_1433174.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/derek-sivers-9939_assuming_most-people-don-t-know-what-they-re-talk_1433174.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/derek-sivers-9939_assuming_most-people-don-t-know-what-they-re-talk_1433174.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most people don't know what they're talking about. They move their mouth and say things because they don't…” — Derek Sivers", "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": "Derek Sivers", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Most people don't know what they're...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/most-people-don-t-know-what-they-re-talking-about-they-move-their/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/most-people-don-t-know-what-they-re-talking-about-they-move-their/#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 } } ] } ```