--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Confidence is ignorance. If you're…" description: "\"Confidence is ignorance. If you're feeling cocky, it's because there's something you don't know.\" — Eoin Colfer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/739/eoin-colfer-736_cocky_confidence-is-ignorance-if-you-re-feelin_481701.png" --- # Confidence is ignorance. If you're feeling cocky, it's… ![“Confidence is ignorance. If you're feeling cocky, it's because there's something you don't know.” quote by Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/739/eoin-colfer-736_cocky_confidence-is-ignorance-if-you-re-feelin_481701.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/739/eoin-colfer-736_cocky_confidence-is-ignorance-if-you-re-feelin_481701.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/739/eoin-colfer-736_cocky_confidence-is-ignorance-if-you-re-feelin_481701.png) > “Confidence is ignorance. If you're feeling cocky, it's because there's something you don't know.” [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Overconfidence stems from unseen gaps in knowledge; feeling cocky reveals what we haven't learned. **In simple terms:** Being cocky shows hidden ignorance. Key Takeaway Check what you don't know before acting. Themes humility self-awareness learning Mood cautious reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - team meetings - new projects - skill assessments - public speaking Key Concepts cognitive bias metacognition knowledge gaps Questions to Reflect On - What might you be overlooking? - How can you turn cockiness into curiosity? A Different Perspective Confidence can be useful when paired with honest self‑evaluation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cocky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cocky/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Confidence Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence-ignorance-3243709/) [Feeling Cocky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-cocky-4141160/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Ignorance Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance-feeling-4141161/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) ## Related quotes > [It is also true that the less competent a person is in a given domain, the more he will tend to overestimate his abilities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/it-is-also-true-that-the-less-competent-a-person-is-in-a-given-domain/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“Money is really made up. It is only because of the illusion of confidence and the ignorance of the masses that this house of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/money-is-really-made-up-it-is-only-because-of-the-illusion-of/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [The confidence of ignorance will always overcome the indecision of knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-storey/the-confidence-of-ignorance-will-always-overcome-the-indecision-of/) [David Storey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-storey/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [I'm not cocky. But I'm very confident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-thomas/i-m-not-cocky-but-i-m-very-confident/) [Frank Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-thomas/) > [Ignorance, as they say, is usually fatal, but sometimes it can be bliss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/ignorance-as-they-say-is-usually-fatal-but-sometimes-it-can-be-bliss/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Never mistake your arrogance for confidence and then let your ignorance become you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-quinlan/never-mistake-your-arrogance-for-confidence-and-then-let-your/) [Ryan Quinlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-quinlan/) > [And then the industry itself was so cocky about what they were doing that they weren't seeing what was coming on the horizon with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maraniss/and-then-the-industry-itself-was-so-cocky-about-what-they-were-doing/) [David Maraniss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maraniss/) > [If yuu lyk wat yuu see thn y don yuu tke a picture,,, it'll last longr???](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-evans/if-yuu-lyk-wat-yuu-see-thn-y-don-yuu-tke-a-picture-it-ll-last-longr/) [Carolyn Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-evans/) > [I hope I don't come off as being cocky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebe-zahara-benet/i-hope-i-don-t-come-off-as-being-cocky/) [BeBe Zahara Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bebe-zahara-benet/) > [Haters call me 'gay,' but their girlfriends want me more than them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-bieber/haters-call-me-gay-but-their-girlfriends-want-me-more-than-them/) [Justin Bieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-bieber/) > [I don't know how to fix a car. If the car breaks down, and the gas tank does not say "E", I'm screwed. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-know-how-to-fix-a-car-if-the-car-breaks-down-and-the-gas-tank/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [She say I'm cocky, I say that's not me. She call me papi and I say ven aqui.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meek-mill/she-say-i-m-cocky-i-say-that-s-not-me-she-call-me-papi-and-i-say-ven/) [Meek Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meek-mill/) > [Before, when I was 19-0, I was undefeated and I was 23, 24 years old. Yeah, I was cocky, I had a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-sanchez/before-when-i-was-19-0-i-was-undefeated-and-i-was-23-24-years-old/) [Diego Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-sanchez/) > [“I like seeing sexy chicks whoop the cocky off guys like Turner.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-m-stunich/i-like-seeing-sexy-chicks-whoop-the-cocky-off-guys-like-turner/) [C.M. Stunich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-m-stunich/) ## More by Eoin Colfer > [There’s always time for babbling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/there-s-always-time-for-babbling/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [And I will not be beaten by that jackass." "Jackass?" said Foaly, wounded. "My favorite uncle is a jackass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/and-i-will-not-be-beaten-by-that-jackass-jackass-said-foaly-wounded/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Thankfully the rest of the world assumed that the Irish were crazy, a theory that the Irish themselves did nothing to debunk. They had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/thankfully-the-rest-of-the-world-assumed-that-the-irish-were-crazy-a/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [The craft's occupants clutched their armrests, and more than one of them closed their eyes. But not Artemis. He couldn't. There was something morbidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/the-craft-s-occupants-clutched-their-armrests-and-more-than-one-of/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Tea? At the beach? No time for luxuries, Holly. There is important work to be done.” He winked at Butler. “Are you sure you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/tea-at-the-beach-no-time-for-luxuries-holly-there-is-important-work/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Wait," said Butler. "Just wait, Holly. Artemis has a plan." He squinted through the green dome. "What is your plan, Artemis?" All Artemis could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/wait-said-butler-just-wait-holly-artemis-has-a-plan-he-squinted/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Holly is alive,' thought Foaly 'My princess lives,'exulted Orion. 'And we're chasing a dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/holly-is-alive-thought-foaly-my-princess-lives-exulted-orion-and-we/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“There were only two men on the planet better educated in the various martial arts than Butler, and he was related to one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/there-were-only-two-men-on-the-planet-better-educated-in-the-various/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [If Elmore Leonard met Jim Thompson down a dark alley at midnight they might emerge a week later with thick beards, bloodshot eyes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/if-elmore-leonard-met-jim-thompson-down-a-dark-alley-at-midnight-they/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Sig Sauer. Nine millimetres. Thirteen in the magazine. Big bullets. One of these hits you and it could blow your head off; something even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/sig-sauer-nine-millimetres-thirteen-in-the-magazine-big-bullets-one/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“I feel him near in the twist of me guts. It's something I've always been able to do. --The Reluctant Assassin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/i-feel-him-near-in-the-twist-of-me-guts-it-s-something-i-ve-always/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Onscreen, Foaly rubbed his eyelids with his index fingers. "Yeah, yeah. Here we go. Captain Short goes rogue once more. Hands up who's surprised.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/onscreen-foaly-rubbed-his-eyelids-with-his-index-fingers-yeah-yeah/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [(about his terrible attempt at making a sandwich) It's more difficult than it looks. (Artemis Fowl)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/about-his-terrible-attempt-at-making-a-sandwich-it-s-more-difficult/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Play along, the wink said. I'll get you out of this. At least Artemis hoped this was what his wink communicated and not something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/play-along-the-wink-said-i-ll-get-you-out-of-this-at-least-artemis/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“ It's now or never , thought Otto. Now, now! thought Witmeyer. And so Ram kissed Thundercat, and suddenly neither bed of roses nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/it-s-now-or-never-thought-otto-now-now-thought-witmeyer-and-so-ram/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) [Explore all 371 Eoin Colfer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) ## More Cocky quotes > [“I like seeing sexy chicks whoop the cocky off guys like Turner.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-m-stunich/i-like-seeing-sexy-chicks-whoop-the-cocky-off-guys-like-turner/) [C.M. Stunich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-m-stunich/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [Before, when I was 19-0, I was undefeated and I was 23, 24 years old. Yeah, I was cocky, I had a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-sanchez/before-when-i-was-19-0-i-was-undefeated-and-i-was-23-24-years-old/) [Diego Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-sanchez/) > [She say I'm cocky, I say that's not me. She call me papi and I say ven aqui.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meek-mill/she-say-i-m-cocky-i-say-that-s-not-me-she-call-me-papi-and-i-say-ven/) [Meek Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meek-mill/) > [I don't know how to fix a car. If the car breaks down, and the gas tank does not say "E", I'm screwed. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-know-how-to-fix-a-car-if-the-car-breaks-down-and-the-gas-tank/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Haters call me 'gay,' but their girlfriends want me more than them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-bieber/haters-call-me-gay-but-their-girlfriends-want-me-more-than-them/) [Justin Bieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-bieber/) > [I hope I don't come off as being cocky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebe-zahara-benet/i-hope-i-don-t-come-off-as-being-cocky/) [BeBe Zahara Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bebe-zahara-benet/) > [If yuu lyk wat yuu see thn y don yuu tke a picture,,, it'll last longr???](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-evans/if-yuu-lyk-wat-yuu-see-thn-y-don-yuu-tke-a-picture-it-ll-last-longr/) [Carolyn Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-evans/) > [And then the industry itself was so cocky about what they were doing that they weren't seeing what was coming on the horizon with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maraniss/and-then-the-industry-itself-was-so-cocky-about-what-they-were-doing/) [David Maraniss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maraniss/) > [I'm COCKY and I know it.!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-lopez/i-m-cocky-and-i-know-it/) [Michelle Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-lopez/) > [“As cocky as this sounds, I knew I could walk onto that campus and get a date with the nearest available girl. Probably even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-lynn/as-cocky-as-this-sounds-i-knew-i-could-walk-onto-that-campus-and-get/) [J. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-lynn/) > [I'd rather be cocky than insecure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-d-rather-be-cocky-than-insecure/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The thing about people from Chicago and the Northwest suburbs is that they're very cocky. I think that serves us well in the show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-chandrasekhar/the-thing-about-people-from-chicago-and-the-northwest-suburbs-is-that/) [Jay Chandrasekhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-chandrasekhar/) > [Me: Breathe if you find me attractive Entire human race: \*dies from lack of oxygen\*](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazmin-thomason/me-breathe-if-you-find-me-attractive-entire-human-race-dies-from-lack/) [Jazmin Thomason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazmin-thomason/) > [I don't mean to be cocky, but if I'm never on TV again, if I never make another dollar, I am proud. I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mr-t/i-don-t-mean-to-be-cocky-but-if-i-m-never-on-tv-again-if-i-never-make/) [Mr. T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mr-t/) [Browse all 536 Cocky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cocky/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Confidence is ignorance. 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