--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When an old and distinguished person…" description: "\"When an old and distinguished person speaks to you, listen to him carefully and with respect — but do not believe him. Never put your trust into anythi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b73/linus-pauling-8508_believe_when-an-old-and-distinguished-person-spe_1786213.jpg" --- # When an old and distinguished person speaks to you, listen… ![“When an old and distinguished person speaks to you, listen to him carefully and with respect — but do not believe him. Never put your trust into anything but your own intellect. Your elder, no matter whether he has gray hair or has lost his hair, no matter whether he is a Nobel laureate — may be…” quote by Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b73/linus-pauling-8508_believe_when-an-old-and-distinguished-person-spe_1786213.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b73/linus-pauling-8508_believe_when-an-old-and-distinguished-person-spe_1786213.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b73/linus-pauling-8508_believe_when-an-old-and-distinguished-person-spe_1786213.jpg) > “When an old and distinguished person speaks to you, listen to him carefully and with respect — but do not believe him. Never put your trust into anything but your own intellect. Your elder, no matter whether he has gray hair or has lost his hair, no matter whether he is a Nobel laureate — may be wrong. The world progresses, year by year, century by century, as the members of the younger generation find out what was wrong among the things that their elders said. So you must always be skeptical — always think for yourself.” [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critical thinking requires questioning authority and relying on personal reasoning rather than accepting ideas solely because of age or status. **In simple terms:** Think for yourself, not just follow elders. Key Takeaway Cultivate independent judgment and healthy skepticism. Themes skepticism independence critical thinking education Mood inquisitive cautious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - academic research - career decisions - personal relationships - media consumption Key Concepts Epistemology cognitive bias science philosophy Questions to Reflect On - When should you trust expert advice? - How do you balance respect and doubt? A Different Perspective Over‑skepticism can breed cynicism and dismiss valuable wisdom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elder/) [Elders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elders/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Gray hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gray-hair/) [Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hair/) [Intellect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellect/) [Nobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nobel/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Skeptical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skeptical/) [Think for yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-for-yourself/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Younger generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/younger-generation/) ## Related quotes > [“the most weird things about elders, they learned it on a quiet younger age & don't want us to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srinivas-shenoy/the-most-weird-things-about-elders-they-learned-it-on-a-quiet-younger/) [Srinivas Shenoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srinivas-shenoy/) > [Age was respected among his people, but achievement was revered. As the elders said, if a child washed his hands he could eat with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/age-was-respected-among-his-people-but-achievement-was-revered-as-the/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“Yet, the elders said, at times the world became too predictable and the challenge began to go out of life. Without challenge, life had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/yet-the-elders-said-at-times-the-world-became-too-predictable-and-the/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Wake-up! Think for yourself, be yourself and return to what is real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wake-up-think-for-yourself-be-yourself-and-return-to-what-is-real/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you place a high value on truth, you have to think for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/when-you-place-a-high-value-on-truth-you-have-to-think-for-yourself/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [A public library is the most democratic thing in the world. What can be found there has undone dictators and tyrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/a-public-library-is-the-most-democratic-thing-in-the-world-what-can/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [I try to tell people to do, or advise them, anyway, is adopt conservative philosophies like hard work, preparation, perseverance, love of God, love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-clarke-jr/i-try-to-tell-people-to-do-or-advise-them-anyway-is-adopt/) David A. Clarke, Jr > [Develop and protect a moral sensibility and demonstrate the character to apply it. Dream big. Work hard. Think for yourself. Love everything you love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/develop-and-protect-a-moral-sensibility-and-demonstrate-the-character/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Information is Power. Think For Yourself. CAUTION: proper use of the brain is not endorsed by federal governments nor huge corporations involved in serious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/information-is-power-think-for-yourself-caution-proper-use-of-the/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [It takes tremendous discipline, takes tremendous courage, to think for yourself, to examine yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/it-takes-tremendous-discipline-takes-tremendous-courage-to-think-for/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [Love is the most practical thing in the world. To love, to be kind, not to be greedy, not to be ambitious, not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/love-is-the-most-practical-thing-in-the-world-to-love-to-be-kind-not/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Think for yourself. Unplug yourself from follow-the-follower groupthink, and virtually ignore what everyone else in your industry is saying (except the ones everyone agrees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-pavlina/think-for-yourself-unplug-yourself-from-follow-the-follower/) [Steve Pavlina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-pavlina/) > [The aim of human life is to know thyself. Think for yourself. Question authority. Think with your friends. Create, create new realities. Philosophy is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/the-aim-of-human-life-is-to-know-thyself-think-for-yourself-question/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [I always thought the idea of education was to learn to think for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/i-always-thought-the-idea-of-education-was-to-learn-to-think-for/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) ## More by Linus Pauling > [You can trace every sickness, every disease and every ailment to a mineral deficiency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/you-can-trace-every-sickness-every-disease-and-every-ailment-to-a/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Science is the search for truth, that is the effort to understand the world: it involves the rejection of bias, of dogma, of revelation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/science-is-the-search-for-truth-that-is-the-effort-to-understand-the/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [The only sane policy for the world is that of abolishing war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/the-only-sane-policy-for-the-world-is-that-of-abolishing-war/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Just one living cell in the human body is, more complex than New York City.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/just-one-living-cell-in-the-human-body-is-more-complex-than-new-york/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Satisfaction of one's curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/satisfaction-of-one-s-curiosity-is-one-of-the-greatest-sources-of/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Science is the search for the truth--it is not a game in which one tries to beat his opponent, to do harm to others.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/science-is-the-search-for-the-truth-it-is-not-a-game-in-which-one/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [ \[Professor Pauling\] confesses that he had harboured the feeling that sooner or later he would be the one to get the DNA structure; and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/professor-pauling-confesses-that-he-had-harboured-the-feeling-that/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/the-best-way-to-have-a-good-idea-is-to-have-lots-of-ideas/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Every aspect of the world today - even politics and international relations - is affected by chemistry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/every-aspect-of-the-world-today-even-politics-and-international/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [I believe that you can, by taking some simple and inexpensive measures, lead a longer life and extend your years of well-being. My most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/i-believe-that-you-can-by-taking-some-simple-and-inexpensive-measures/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [But I know also that still more interesting discoveries will be made that I have not the imagination to describe - and I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/but-i-know-also-that-still-more-interesting-discoveries-will-be-made/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Man's great power of thinking, remembering, and communicating are responsible for the evolution of civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/man-s-great-power-of-thinking-remembering-and-communicating-are/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/the-best-way-to-have-a-good-idea-is-to-have-a-lot-of-ideas/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [I try to identify myself with the atoms ... I ask what I would do If I were a carbon atom or a sodium atom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/i-try-to-identify-myself-with-the-atoms-i-ask-what-i-would-do-if-i/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [The way to get good ideas is to get lots of ideas and throw the bad ones away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/the-way-to-get-good-ideas-is-to-get-lots-of-ideas-and-throw-the-bad/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) [Explore all 80 Linus Pauling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When an old and distinguished person speaks to you, listen to him carefully and with respect — but do not believe him. Never put your trust into anything but your own intellect. Your elder, no matter whether he has gray hair or has lost his hair, no matter whether he is a Nobel laureate — may be wrong. The world progresses, year by year, century by century, as the members of the younger generation find out what was wrong among the things that their elders said. 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