--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: . . . if you can tell the difference…" description: "\". . . if you can tell the difference between good advice and bad advice, you don't need advice.\" — Laurence J. Peter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/laurence-j-peter-2798_advice_if-you-can-tell-the-difference-between-g_2327378.png" --- # . . . if you can tell the difference between good advice… ![“. . . if you can tell the difference between good advice and bad advice, you don't need advice.” quote by Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/laurence-j-peter-2798_advice_if-you-can-tell-the-difference-between-g_2327378.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/laurence-j-peter-2798_advice_if-you-can-tell-the-difference-between-g_2327378.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/laurence-j-peter-2798_advice_if-you-can-tell-the-difference-between-g_2327378.png) > “. . . if you can tell the difference between good advice and bad advice, you don't need advice.” [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If you can distinguish good from bad advice, you no longer need advice at all. **In simple terms:** Self‑reliance in judgment. Key Takeaway Trust your own discernment. Themes self‑reliance critical thinking advice Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - making choices without external input - evaluating information - building confidence Key Concepts decision making independence Questions to Reflect On - When is it wise to seek advice despite confidence? - How can you test the quality of your own judgments? A Different Perspective Overconfidence may lead to dismissing valuable guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Bad advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-advice/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Good advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-advice/) ## Related quotes > [If you know the difference between good advice and bad advice,You don't need advice..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-know-the-difference-between-good-advice-and-bad-advice-you-don/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“My advice is don’t take advice from anybody. This is good advice, and as such, it’s bad advice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/my-advice-is-don-t-take-advice-from-anybody-this-is-good-advice-and/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Probably all of my advice is bad advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-braunohler/probably-all-of-my-advice-is-bad-advice/) [Kurt Braunohler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-braunohler/) > [Sometimes economists in official positions give bad advice; sometimes they give very, very bad advice; and sometimes they work at the OECD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/sometimes-economists-in-official-positions-give-bad-advice-sometimes/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [“Doctors are allowed to tell us things which they might not do themselves. They know what the right thing is, but they may not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/doctors-are-allowed-to-tell-us-things-which-they-might-not-do/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [Talking to yourself proves only one thing: you're still unable to tell the difference between good and bad company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/talking-to-yourself-proves-only-one-thing-you-re-still-unable-to-tell/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [“How can you tell the difference between the good guys and the bad guys when they say the same things?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/how-can-you-tell-the-difference-between-the-good-guys-and-the-bad/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [Most people struggle financially because they take advice from sales people, not rich people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/most-people-struggle-financially-because-they-take-advice-from-sales/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [“Bad advice will blind you, good advice will instruct you, excellent advice will enlighten you, and transcendent advice will elevate you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/bad-advice-will-blind-you-good-advice-will-instruct-you-excellent/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [There's a saying - "Write what you know." 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Something goes wrong, somebody marries the wrong person, somebody advances too fast, somebody converts, somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rush/there-is-no-permanent-friendship-between-men-among-men-something-goes/) [Norman Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rush/) > [There are as many forms of advice as there are colors of the rainbow. Remember that good advice can come from bad people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/there-are-as-many-forms-of-advice-as-there-are-colors-of-the-rainbow/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [It seems that bad advice that's fun will always be better known than than good advice that's dull-no matter how useless that fun advice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-berkun/it-seems-that-bad-advice-that-s-fun-will-always-be-better-known-than/) [Scott Berkun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-berkun/) ## More by Laurence J. Peter > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [The surest sign that you haven't any sense is to argue with one who hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-surest-sign-that-you-haven-t-any-sense-is-to-argue-with-one-who/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [It is wise to remember that you are one of those who can be fooled some of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/it-is-wise-to-remember-that-you-are-one-of-those-who-can-be-fooled/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Everyone rises to their level of incompetence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/everyone-rises-to-their-level-of-incompetence/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Give a child enough rope and he will trip you up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/give-a-child-enough-rope-and-he-will-trip-you-up/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Incompetence plus incompetence equals incompetence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/incompetence-plus-incompetence-equals-incompetence/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [He laughs best whose laugh lasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/he-laughs-best-whose-laugh-lasts/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [The best intelligence test is what we do with our leisure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-best-intelligence-test-is-what-we-do-with-our-leisure/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [A man convinced against his will is not convinced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/a-man-convinced-against-his-will-is-not-convinced/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Bore : A fellow who can change the subject back to his topic of conversation faster than you can change it back to yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/bore-a-fellow-who-can-change-the-subject-back-to-his-topic-of/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Men now monopolize the upper levels... depriving women of their rightful share of opportunities for incompetence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/men-now-monopolize-the-upper-levels-depriving-women-of-their-rightful/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [An optimist is one who makes the best of it when he gets the worst of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/an-optimist-is-one-who-makes-the-best-of-it-when-he-gets-the-worst-of/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [The seaman tells stories of winds, the ploughman of bulls; the soldier details his wounds, the shepherd his sheep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-seaman-tells-stories-of-winds-the-ploughman-of-bulls-the-soldier/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Nobody can be perfect unless he admits his faults, but if he has faults how can he be perfect?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/nobody-can-be-perfect-unless-he-admits-his-faults-but-if-he-has/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell, and advertise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/early-to-bed-early-to-rise-work-like-hell-and-advertise/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) [Explore all 148 Laurence J. Peter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) ## More Advice quotes > [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/) Mak\_786 > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Don't get too attached to someone you know you can't be together with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-get-too-attached-to-someone-you-know-you-can-t-be-together-with/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Time is priceless. You have it, but you don't own it. You spend it, but you can't keep it. And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [My relationship with Ibrahimovic was completely neutral. He is not the type of player to approach the younger players and give them advice. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/my-relationship-with-ibrahimovic-was-completely-neutral-he-is-not-the/) [Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/) [Browse all 8,535 Advice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": ". . . if you can tell the difference between good advice and bad advice, you don't need advice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laurence J. 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