Common sense Quote by Richard Wiseman
““This may sound somewhat obvious but, as the French philosopher Voltaire once famously pointed out, the main problem with common sense is that it is not so common.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Richard Wiseman on Common Sense, 2015
Common sense is paradoxically rare; what we call “common” is often uncommon.
In simple terms: Common sense isn’t actually common.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about “common sense”.
Themes
critical thinking
logic
psychology
Mood
skeptical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- decision making
- education
- media analysis
- public discourse
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
social perception
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions do you label as common sense?
- How can you test the universality of a belief?
A Different Perspective
People may overestimate how widely shared their intuitions are.
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