---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Slender certainty is better than…"
description: "\"Slender certainty is better than portentous falsehood.\" — Leonardo da Vinci"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/leonardo-da-vinci-330_certainty_slender-certainty-is-better-than-portent_1609789.jpg"
---

#  Slender certainty is better than portentous falsehood.

![“Slender certainty is better than portentous falsehood.” quote by Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/leonardo-da-vinci-330_certainty_slender-certainty-is-better-than-portent_1609789.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/leonardo-da-vinci-330_certainty_slender-certainty-is-better-than-portent_1609789.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/leonardo-da-vinci-330_certainty_slender-certainty-is-better-than-portent_1609789.jpg)

> “Slender certainty is better than portentous falsehood.”

[Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

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.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Better Portentous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-portentous-6137854/) [Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) [Certainty Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty-better-6137852/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Falsehood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsehood/) [Portentous Falsehood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/portentous-falsehood-6137855/) [Slender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slender/) [Slender Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slender-certainty-6137853/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/)

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> [Incredible what slender threads you begin to hang your hopes on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wein/incredible-what-slender-threads-you-begin-to-hang-your-hopes-on/)

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> [The beauteous dragonfly's dancing By the waves of the rivulet glancing; She dances here and she dances there, The glimmering, glittering flutterer fair. Full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/the-beauteous-dragonfly-s-dancing-by-the-waves-of-the-rivulet/)

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[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [When man of slender visits you / Nothing on earth that one can do / In well he’ll hide, or watery hole / And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-goldstein/when-man-of-slender-visits-you-nothing-on-earth-that-one-can-do-in/)

[Jack Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-goldstein/)

## More by Leonardo da Vinci

> [The evil which does me no harm is like the good which in no wise avails me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/the-evil-which-does-me-no-harm-is-like-the-good-which-in-no-wise/)

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> [A painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black, because all things in nature are dark except where exposed by the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/a-painter-should-begin-every-canvas-with-a-wash-of-black-because-all/)

[Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/)

> [Nothing can be love or hated unless it is first known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/nothing-can-be-love-or-hated-unless-it-is-first-known/)

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> [An arch consists of two weaknesses which, leaning one against the other, make a strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/an-arch-consists-of-two-weaknesses-which-leaning-one-against-the/)

[Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/)

> [But to me all sciences seem vain and full of error that are not born of experience, mother of all certainty, and do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/but-to-me-all-sciences-seem-vain-and-full-of-error-that-are-not-born/)

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[Explore all 664 Leonardo da Vinci quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/)

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> [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/)

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