Certainty Quote by Leonardo da Vinci
“Slender certainty is better than portentous falsehood.”
About This Quote
Source Notebook: Codex Leicester, 1508
A modest, reliable truth is preferable to a grand but false claim.
In simple terms: Small truths beat big lies.
Key Takeaway
Value reliable evidence over impressive speculation.
Themes
truth
integrity
skepticism
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- scientific research
- journalism
- legal testimony
Key Concepts
epistemology
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- When should bold speculation be entertained?
- How to verify claims before acceptance?
A Different Perspective
Some bold ideas inspire progress despite uncertainty.
![“[I]f in other sciences we should arrive at certainty without doubt and truth without error, it behooves us to place the foundations of knowledge in mathematics, in so far as disposed through it we are able to reach certainty in other sciences and truth by the exclusion of error.” quote by Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d13/roger-bacon-15067_able_i-f-in-other-sciences-we-should-arrive-a_24209.jpg)