Been Quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr
“Certitude is not the test of certainty. We have been cocksure of many things that were not so.”
About This Quote
The quote warns that confidence does not equal truth, highlighting the danger of overconfidence.
In simple terms: Confidence ≠ certainty.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions before accepting them.
Themes
philosophy
logic
epistemology
confidence
certainty
Mood
thoughtful
cautious
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- decision making
- science
- law
- personal belief
- politics
Key Concepts
critical thinking
skepticism
Questions to Reflect On
- When have you been overconfident?
- How can we better test our certainties?
A Different Perspective
Overconfidence can blind us to errors.
![“We [tend to] have more faith in what we imitate than in what we originate. We [often feel that we] cannot derive a sense of absolute certitude from anything which has its root in us. The most poignant sense of insecurity comes from standing alone; we are not alone when we imitate.” quote by Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f9a/bruce-lee-430_absolutes_we-tend-to-have-more-faith-in-what-we-im_269245.jpg)
