--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Believe nothing just because a so-called…" description: "\"Believe nothing just because a so-called wise person said it. Believe nothing just because a belief is generally held. Believe nothing just because it ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/gautama-buddha-163_ancient_believe-nothing-just-because-a-so-called_1097911.jpg" --- # Believe nothing just because a so-called wise person said… ![“Believe nothing just because a so-called wise person said it. Believe nothing just because a belief is generally held. Believe nothing just because it is said in ancient books. Believe nothing just because it is said to be of divine origin. Believe nothing just because someone else believes it…” quote by Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/gautama-buddha-163_ancient_believe-nothing-just-because-a-so-called_1097911.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/gautama-buddha-163_ancient_believe-nothing-just-because-a-so-called_1097911.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/gautama-buddha-163_ancient_believe-nothing-just-because-a-so-called_1097911.jpg) > “Believe nothing just because a so-called wise person said it. Believe nothing just because a belief is generally held. Believe nothing just because it is said in ancient books. Believe nothing just because it is said to be of divine origin. Believe nothing just because someone else believes it. Believe only what you yourself test and judge to be true.” [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages personal verification over blind acceptance of authority, tradition, or doctrine. **In simple terms:** Test ideas yourself, don’t accept them just because others say so. Key Takeaway Rely on personal experience and reason. Themes critical thinking skepticism personal responsibility Mood inquisitive cautious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - scientific research - personal decision making - ethical judgments - political discourse - spiritual practice Key Concepts epistemology empiricism independence Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance skepticism with openness to new ideas? - When is it appropriate to trust expert consensus? A Different Perspective May overlook valuable wisdom embedded in tradition or expert insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) ## Related quotes > [If you think something is true about someone just because everyone else believes it, then you are not thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-think-something-is-true-about-someone-just-because-everyone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just because nobody else believes in your relationship doesn't mean you don't. You have something there for a reason, and that's why sh\*t is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-r/just-because-nobody-else-believes-in-your-relationship-doesn-t-mean/) Morgan R > [ “Magic will still be here \[...\] just as it always has been. Even if no one believes it.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-claire-franklin/magic-will-still-be-here-just-as-it-always-has-been-even-if-no-one/) [Madeline Claire Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-claire-franklin/) > [Because I would just tell everyone it was going to be great and just put that belief in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-capaldi/because-i-would-just-tell-everyone-it-was-going-to-be-great-and-just/) [Jim Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-capaldi/) > [“Life goes on within you and without you.’ I just have a belief that this is only one little bit, the physical world is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/life-goes-on-within-you-and-without-you-i-just-have-a-belief-that/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [I just have a belief that when there is a rare script out there that speaks to you, you have to stick with it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-matarazzo/i-just-have-a-belief-that-when-there-is-a-rare-script-out-there-that/) [Heather Matarazzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-matarazzo/) > [“Success tastes different when you built it with no blueprint, no backing, just belief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-bekoe/success-tastes-different-when-you-built-it-with-no-blueprint-no/) [Marion Bekoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-bekoe/) > [“The Sage A person of wisdom should be truthful, without arrogance, without deceit, not slanderous and not hateful. The wise person should go beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/the-sage-a-person-of-wisdom-should-be-truthful-without-arrogance/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [By three things the wise person may be known. What three? He sees a shortcoming as it is. When he sees it, he tries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/by-three-things-the-wise-person-may-be-known-what-three-he-sees-a/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Do not have as friends harmful people, the wise person does not associate with the worst of people. Have as friends virtuous people, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/do-not-have-as-friends-harmful-people-the-wise-person-does-not/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Let no person think lightly of good, saying in his or her heart, "it will not benefit me." As by the falling of raindrops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/let-no-person-think-lightly-of-good-saying-in-his-or-her-heart-it/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [As a mountain is unshaken by the wind, so the heart of a wise person is unmoved by all the changes on this earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/as-a-mountain-is-unshaken-by-the-wind-so-the-heart-of-a-wise-person/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > ['You don't need to believe anything, just go into your own mind and check up, right now. Right now you can experience meditation. Awakening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/you-don-t-need-to-believe-anything-just-go-into-your-own-mind-and/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Don't believe something just because you didn't read it in the papers. Wait until you haven't seen it on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-kelly/don-t-believe-something-just-because-you-didn-t-read-it-in-the-papers/) [Walt Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-kelly/) > [Human beings believe just as they breathe - in order to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/human-beings-believe-just-as-they-breathe-in-order-to-survive/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) ## More by Gautama Buddha > [Before you've seen it, and when you first see it, it is the greatest thing; afterwards, it is ordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/before-you-ve-seen-it-and-when-you-first-see-it-it-is-the-greatest/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the Messiah?" "No," answered Buddha. "Then are you a healer?" "No," Buddha replied. "Then are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-of-his-students-asked-buddha-are-you-the-messiah-no-answered/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Give thanks for what had been given to you, However little. Be pure, never falter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/give-thanks-for-what-had-been-given-to-you-however-little-be-pure/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [For fear of causing terror to living beings, Mahamati, let the Bodhisattva who is disciplining himself to attain compassion, refrain from eating flesh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/for-fear-of-causing-terror-to-living-beings-mahamati-let-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Be lamps unto yourselves. Be refuges unto yourselves. Take yourself no external refuge. Hold fast to the truth as a lamp. Hold fast to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-refuges-unto-yourselves-take-yourself-no/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Speak only the speech that neither torments self nor does harm to others. That speech is truly well spoken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/speak-only-the-speech-that-neither-torments-self-nor-does-harm-to/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Pain is the outcome of sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/pain-is-the-outcome-of-sin/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [It is because I perceive the danger in the practice of mystic wonders, that I loath, abhor, and am ashamed thereof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/it-is-because-i-perceive-the-danger-in-the-practice-of-mystic-wonders/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [If one is the master of oneself, one is the resort one can depend on; therefore, one should control oneself of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-one-is-the-master-of-oneself-one-is-the-resort-one-can-depend-on/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Watch the thought and its ways with care, and let it spring from love born out of concern for all beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/watch-the-thought-and-its-ways-with-care-and-let-it-spring-from-love/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [One is not low because of birth nor does birth make one holy. Deeds alone make one low, deeds alone make one holy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-is-not-low-because-of-birth-nor-does-birth-make-one-holy-deeds/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [He who causes suffering shall suffer. There is no escape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/he-who-causes-suffering-shall-suffer-there-is-no-escape/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [If a person does not harm any living being...and does not kill or cause others to kill - that person is a true spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-a-person-does-not-harm-any-living-being-and-does-not-kill-or-cause/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [The fool says, "These are my sons, this is my land, this is my money." In reality, the fool does not own himself, much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/the-fool-says-these-are-my-sons-this-is-my-land-this-is-my-money-in/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) [Explore all 1,043 Gautama Buddha quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) ## More Ancient quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. Perhaps this is nothing but envy of the sweet slowness of the history of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/whenever-i-think-about-ancient-cultures-nostalgia-seizes-me-perhaps/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [I don't know if I've come of age, but I'm certainly older now. I feel shrunken, as if there's a tiny ancient Oliver Tate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-come-of-age-but-i-m-certainly-older-now-i-feel/) [Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/) > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. 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