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Certainty Quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr

“Certitude is not the test of certainty.” quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr
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“Certitude is not the test of certainty.”

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr

About This Quote

Source Legal essay, 1885

Certainty is not a reliable test of truth; confidence can be misleading.

In simple terms: Confidence doesn’t guarantee correctness.

Key Takeaway

Question assumptions despite confidence.

Themes

certainty critical thinking

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

philosophical educational

When to use this quote

  • court decisions
  • scientific research
  • personal judgments

Key Concepts

epistemology law philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

  • When have you been overconfident?
  • How do you verify certainty?
A Different Perspective

Overconfidence can lead to errors.

4.1 out of 5 (8 ratings)

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