--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is no proof of a man's understanding…" description: "\"It is no proof of a man's understanding to be able to affirm whatever he pleases; but to be able to discern that what is true is true, and that what is..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5a/emanuel-swedenborg-3577_able_it-is-no-proof-of-a-man-s-understanding_2107395.png" --- # It is no proof of a man's understanding to be able to… ![“It is no proof of a man's understanding to be able to affirm whatever he pleases; but to be able to discern that what is true is true, and that what is false is false, this is the mark and character of intelligence.” quote by Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5a/emanuel-swedenborg-3577_able_it-is-no-proof-of-a-man-s-understanding_2107395.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5a/emanuel-swedenborg-3577_able_it-is-no-proof-of-a-man-s-understanding_2107395.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5a/emanuel-swedenborg-3577_able_it-is-no-proof-of-a-man-s-understanding_2107395.png) > “It is no proof of a man's understanding to be able to affirm whatever he pleases; but to be able to discern that what is true is true, and that what is false is false, this is the mark and character of intelligence.” [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intelligence is shown by recognizing truth and falsehood, not by asserting personal opinions at **In simple terms:** True insight, not personal bias, defines intelligence. Key Takeaway Seek truth, question assumptions. Themes knowledge truth intelligence Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - debates - academic research - personal decision making - media consumption Key Concepts critical thinking epistemology cognitive humility Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify a claim before accepting it? - What habits help you distinguish fact from opinion? A Different Perspective Human bias can cloud judgment even when seeking truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [To be able to discern that what is true is true, and that what is false is false,--this is the mark and character of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/to-be-able-to-discern-that-what-is-true-is-true-and-that-what-is/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The proof of a man is the danger test, It shows him up at his worst, or his best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-guest/the-proof-of-a-man-is-the-danger-test-it-shows-him-up-at-his-worst-or/) [Edgar Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-guest/) > [“You don't have to believe in coincidences because they happen every day. The trick is to be able to discern when something is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-jones/you-don-t-have-to-believe-in-coincidences-because-they-happen-every/) Glenn Jones > [“I’ve always believed that it’s possible to discern true statements from false statements, and that it’s critically important to do so, and that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-ve-always-believed-that-it-s-possible-to-discern-true-statements/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [I am a clairaudient healer. My specialty is being able to discern the blocks within a person's energy that are prohibiting them from being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-wallace/i-am-a-clairaudient-healer-my-specialty-is-being-able-to-discern-the/) [Dee Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-wallace/) > [I tend to find in my musical world people end up appearing, and I'm pretty good at being able to discern right away whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-townsend/i-tend-to-find-in-my-musical-world-people-end-up-appearing-and-i-m/) [Devin Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-townsend/) > [Children, who play life, discern its true law and relations more clearly than men, who fail to live it worthily, but who think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/children-who-play-life-discern-its-true-law-and-relations-more/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the facts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/education-must-enable-one-to-sift-and-weigh-evidence-to-discern-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The proof that man is the noblest of all creatures is that no other creature has ever denied it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/the-proof-that-man-is-the-noblest-of-all-creatures-is-that-no-other/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [“But even one such example is sufficient proof that man's inner strength may raise him above his outward fate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/but-even-one-such-example-is-sufficient-proof-that-man-s-inner/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“Scars are proof man isn’t perfect, though constantly getting closer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/scars-are-proof-man-isn-t-perfect-though-constantly-getting-closer/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [The proof of a man is the danger test, That shows him up at his worst or best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-guest/the-proof-of-a-man-is-the-danger-test-that-shows-him-up-at-his-worst/) [Edgar Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-guest/) > [“Nobody likes these things life hands us. But part of becoming a man is understanding how to face them head on instead of running…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-jacob/nobody-likes-these-things-life-hands-us-but-part-of-becoming-a-man-is/) [Mira Jacob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-jacob/) > [“Mm, there was no need, but that s how the mind goes on working. The mind goes on creating troubles which are not needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/mm-there-was-no-need-but-that-s-how-the-mind-goes-on-working-the-mind/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More by Emanuel Swedenborg > [The sky is an enormous man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/the-sky-is-an-enormous-man/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [Heaven is not located on high, but where the good of love is, and this resides within a person, wherever he or she might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/heaven-is-not-located-on-high-but-where-the-good-of-love-is-and-this/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [All union is effected by love, and love is not love without trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/all-union-is-effected-by-love-and-love-is-not-love-without-trust/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [What is true is true, and what is false is false...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/what-is-true-is-true-and-what-is-false-is-false/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [Seen in its own right, a loving person's inner spirit is an angel of heaven, and while we are living in the body we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/seen-in-its-own-right-a-loving-person-s-inner-spirit-is-an-angel-of/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [The human race is the basis on which heaven is founded, is because man was last created, and that which is last created is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/the-human-race-is-the-basis-on-which-heaven-is-founded-is-because-man/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [A person who knows all that is good and all that is true---as much as can be known---but does not resist evils, knows nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/a-person-who-knows-all-that-is-good-and-all-that-is-true-as-much-as/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [Adultery is an image of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/adultery-is-an-image-of-hell/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [Goodness and love mould the form into their own image, and cause the joy and beauty of love to shine forth from every part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/goodness-and-love-mould-the-form-into-their-own-image-and-cause-the/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [A life of kindness is the primary meaning of divine worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/a-life-of-kindness-is-the-primary-meaning-of-divine-worship/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [The essence of love is that what is ours should belong to someone else. Feeling the joy of someone else as joy within ourselves-that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/the-essence-of-love-is-that-what-is-ours-should-belong-to-someone/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [The Divine of the Lord in heaven is love, for the reason that love is receptive of all things of heaven, such as peace,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/the-divine-of-the-lord-in-heaven-is-love-for-the-reason-that-love-is/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [Man is so created that as to his internal he cannot die; for he is capable of believing in God, and thus of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/man-is-so-created-that-as-to-his-internal-he-cannot-die-for-he-is/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [A person's life from infancy to old age is nothing else than an advance from the world towards heaven, the last stage of which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/a-person-s-life-from-infancy-to-old-age-is-nothing-else-than-an/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [The church of the Lord is spread over all the globe, and is thus universal; and all those are in it who have lived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/the-church-of-the-lord-is-spread-over-all-the-globe-and-is-thus/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) [Explore all 127 Emanuel Swedenborg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is no proof of a man's understanding to be able to affirm whatever he pleases; but to be able to discern that what is true is true, and that what is false is false, this is the mark and character of intelligence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Emanuel Swedenborg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/it-is-no-proof-of-a-man-s-understanding-to-be-able-to-affirm-whatever/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/it-is-no-proof-of-a-man-s-understanding-to-be-able-to-affirm-whatever/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5a/emanuel-swedenborg-3577_able_it-is-no-proof-of-a-man-s-understanding_2107395.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5a/emanuel-swedenborg-3577_able_it-is-no-proof-of-a-man-s-understanding_2107395.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5a/emanuel-swedenborg-3577_able_it-is-no-proof-of-a-man-s-understanding_2107395.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is no proof of a man's understanding to be able to affirm whatever he pleases; but to be able to discern…” — Emanuel Swedenborg", "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": "Emanuel Swedenborg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is no proof of a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/it-is-no-proof-of-a-man-s-understanding-to-be-able-to-affirm-whatever/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/it-is-no-proof-of-a-man-s-understanding-to-be-able-to-affirm-whatever/#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 } } ] } ```