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Assent Quote by John Locke

“Knowledge being to be had only of visible and certain truth, error is not a fault of our knowledge, but a mistake of our judgment, giving assent to that which is not true.” quote by John Locke
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“Knowledge being to be had only of visible and certain truth, error is not a fault of our knowledge, but a mistake of our judgment, giving assent to that which is not true.”

John Locke

About This Quote

Source Treat: An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, 1690

Knowledge arises from clear, certain truths; errors stem from faulty judgment when we accept falsehoods.

In simple terms: Mistakes happen when we trust false ideas.

Key Takeaway

Check evidence before believing.

Themes

epistemology truth judgment

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

philosophical educational

When to use this quote

  • academic research
  • daily decision making
  • media consumption

Key Concepts

empiricism skepticism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you verify a claim?
  • What biases affect your judgment?
A Different Perspective

Human bias can still lead to error despite careful checking.

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