Authority Quote by Jane Yolen
“Fish are not the best authority on water.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Secret of the Old Clock, 1995
Expertise must be relevant to the subject; irrelevant authority leads to poor judgment.
In simple terms: Use knowledge that matches the problem.
Key Takeaway
Seek appropriate expertise.
Themes
knowledge
authority
relevance
Mood
cautionary
analytical
Type
advisory
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Hiring consultants
- making medical decisions
- educational advice
Key Concepts
Domain expertise
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- When have you trusted an authority that was ill-suited?
- How can you verify relevance of expertise?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on authority can blind you to better solutions.
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)