Max-weber Quote by Max Weber
““No sociologist, for instance, should think himself too good, even in his old age, to make tens of thousands of quite trivial computations in his head and perhaps for months at a time.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Economy and Society, Max Weber, 1922
Intellectual humility is essential; even experts should avoid overconfidence in mental calculations.
In simple terms: Experts should stay modest about their mental abilities.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate humility in scholarly work.
Themes
humility
expertise
intellectual honesty
Mood
reflective
cautious
Type
philosophical
advisory
When to use this quote
- academic research
- policy analysis
- teaching
- public discourse
Key Concepts
sociology
cognitive limits
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you check your mental calculations?
- When should you delegate complex tasks?
A Different Perspective
Overconfidence can still lead to errors despite humility.
![“[In] the realm of science, ... what we have achieved will be obsolete in ten, twenty or fifty years. That is the fate, indeed, that is the very meaning of scientific work. ... Every scientific "fulfillment" raises new "questions" and cries out to be surpassed rendered obsolete. Everyone who wishes…” quote by Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cff/max-weber-8418_accounts_in-the-realm-of-science-what-we-have-ach_126812.jpg)
![“The summum bonum of this [Puritan] ethic is the earning of more and more money combined with the strict avoidance of all enjoyment.” quote by Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8c4/max-weber-8418_avoidance_the-summum-bonum-of-this-puritan-ethic-i_205628.jpg)
