Believed Quote by Michel de Montaigne
““Nothing is so firmly believed as that which is least known.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Essays, Michel de Montaigne, 1580
People tend to trust ideas they understand least, mistaking familiarity for truth.
In simple terms: We trust the unknown more than the known.
Key Takeaway
Question your assumptions.
Themes
knowledge
belief
confidence
Mood
skeptical
reflective
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- political debate
- personal relationships
- education
- media consumption
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- What beliefs do you hold without evidence?
- How can you test the validity of widely accepted ideas?
A Different Perspective
Often the unknown is misunderstood, not more reliable.
![“[Asked if American women would ever win full suffrage:] Assuredly. I firmly believed at one time that I should live to see that day. I have never for one moment lost faith. It will come but I shall not see itit is inevitable.” quote by Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a29/susan-b-anthony-2103_american-woman_asked-if-american-women-would-ever-win-f_1215897.jpg)
