--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem with the wise is they are so…" description: "\"The problem with the wise is they are so filled with doubts and questions while fools are so certain about things.\" — Shannon L Alder" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e76/shannon-l-alder-2-59104_certainty_the-problem-with-the-wise-is-they-are-so_219966.jpg" --- # The problem with the wise is they are so filled with… ![“The problem with the wise is they are so filled with doubts and questions while fools are so certain about things.” quote by Shannon L Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e76/shannon-l-alder-2-59104_certainty_the-problem-with-the-wise-is-they-are-so_219966.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e76/shannon-l-alder-2-59104_certainty_the-problem-with-the-wise-is-they-are-so_219966.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e76/shannon-l-alder-2-59104_certainty_the-problem-with-the-wise-is-they-are-so_219966.jpg) > “The problem with the wise is they are so filled with doubts and questions while fools are so certain about things.” [Shannon L Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wise people are plagued by doubt and inquiry, whereas fools exude false certainty. **In simple terms:** Doubt vs certainty Key Takeaway Embrace questioning, avoid overconfidence. Themes self‑reflection confidence knowledge Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - debates - education - leadership - personal growth Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does doubt affect decision‑making? - When is certainty beneficial? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can also protect against paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) [Dogma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dogma/) [Doubts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubts/) [Fools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fools/) [Possibilities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibilities/) [Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [The problem with the wise is they are so filled with doubts while the dull are so certain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-problem-with-the-wise-is-they-are-so-filled-with-doubts-while-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“We love being mentally strong, but we hate situations that allow us to put our mental strength to good use.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/we-love-being-mentally-strong-but-we-hate-situations-that-allow-us-to/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Only fools are certain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-e-schwab/only-fools-are-certain/) [V.E. Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-e-schwab/) > [Only the fools are certain and assured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/only-the-fools-are-certain-and-assured/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Sensible wise person not afraid to ask questions; the fools don't ask any questions and act like they know it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sensible-wise-person-not-afraid-to-ask-questions-the-fools-don-t-ask/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There exist a lot of questions that the fools can ask, and the intelligent cannot answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/there-exist-a-lot-of-questions-that-the-fools-can-ask-and-the/) [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) > [There are many questions which fools can ask that wise men cannot answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/there-are-many-questions-which-fools-can-ask-that-wise-men-cannot/) [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) > [“Anne, look here. Can’t we be good friends?” For a moment Anne hesitated. She had an odd, newly awakened consciousness under all her outraged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/anne-look-here-can-t-we-be-good-friends-for-a-moment-anne-hesitated/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“The Anatomy of Conflict: If there is no communication then there is no respect. If there is no respect then there is no caring.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/the-anatomy-of-conflict-if-there-is-no-communication-then-there-is-no/) [Shannon L. 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It doesn't mean you won the argument. Often, people are just busy reloading their guns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder-2/be-leery-of-silence-it-doesn-t-mean-you-won-the-argument-often-people/) [Shannon L Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder-2/) > [A thorn in your side will drive you to find someone or thing to remove it. Therefore, don't hate your enemies. Thank them. Without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder-2/a-thorn-in-your-side-will-drive-you-to-find-someone-or-thing-to/) [Shannon L Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder-2/) > [Every person has a dark side. What defines a person with good character is not a spotless life of constant kindness, smiles and even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder-2/every-person-has-a-dark-side-what-defines-a-person-with-good/) [Shannon L Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder-2/) > [The greatest regret is being what others would want you to be rather than being yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder-2/the-greatest-regret-is-being-what-others-would-want-you-to-be-rather/) [Shannon L Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder-2/) [Explore all 5 Shannon L Alder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder-2/) ## More Certainty quotes > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [Sometimes we have the absolute certainty there's something inside us that's so hideous and monstrous that if we ever search it out we won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr/sometimes-we-have-the-absolute-certainty-there-s-something-inside-us/) [Hubert Selby, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr/) > [The past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-past-and-the-future-become-unimportant-there-is-only-that-moment/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [In the mental disturbance and effort of writing, what sustains you is the certainty that on every page there is something left unsaid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/in-the-mental-disturbance-and-effort-of-writing-what-sustains-you-is/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Of course I doubt. I do not practice a certainty. I practice a faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/of-course-i-doubt-i-do-not-practice-a-certainty-i-practice-a-faith/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [The world is a wonderfully weird place, consensual reality is significantly flawed, no institution can be trusted, certainty is a mirage, security a delusion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-world-is-a-wonderfully-weird-place-consensual-reality-is/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As a businessman, I know that businesses need certainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-foster/as-a-businessman-i-know-that-businesses-need-certainty/) [Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/) > [It is suggested that in domestic violence at least the presence or absence of a firearm, or of any other type of weapon, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-greenwood/it-is-suggested-that-in-domestic-violence-at-least-the-presence-or/) [Colin Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-greenwood/) > [Every single person who is a member of our party deserves to have certainty. They deserve to know that my attention and focus is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/every-single-person-who-is-a-member-of-our-party-deserves-to-have/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [The significance and volume of repairs that are needed across the country demand that we give state and local governments the long-term certainty they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-graves/the-significance-and-volume-of-repairs-that-are-needed-across-the/) [Sam Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-graves/) > [“Death is the one great certainty in life. That’s what my dad used to say. Nothing else is certain. Not love. Not happiness. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-gray/death-is-the-one-great-certainty-in-life-that-s-what-my-dad-used-to/) [Mila Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-gray/) > [ \[I\]f in other sciences we should arrive at certainty without doubt and truth without error, it behooves us to place the foundations of knowledge… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/i-f-in-other-sciences-we-should-arrive-at-certainty-without-doubt-and/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [Do not lose hope; St. Joseph also experienced moments of difficulty, but he never lost faith and was able to overcome them, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/do-not-lose-hope-st-joseph-also-experienced-moments-of-difficulty-but/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [Finding someone that trusted my vision helped me find certainty in who I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/finding-someone-that-trusted-my-vision-helped-me-find-certainty-in/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) [Browse all 1,776 Certainty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The problem with the wise is they are so filled with doubts and questions while fools are so certain about things.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shannon L Alder" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder-2/the-problem-with-the-wise-is-they-are-so-filled-with-doubts-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Certainty" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder-2/the-problem-with-the-wise-is-they-are-so-filled-with-doubts-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e76/shannon-l-alder-2-59104_certainty_the-problem-with-the-wise-is-they-are-so_219966.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e76/shannon-l-alder-2-59104_certainty_the-problem-with-the-wise-is-they-are-so_219966.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e76/shannon-l-alder-2-59104_certainty_the-problem-with-the-wise-is-they-are-so_219966.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The problem with the wise is they are so filled with doubts and questions while fools are so certain about…” — Shannon L Alder", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Shannon L Alder", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder-2/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The problem with the wise is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder-2/the-problem-with-the-wise-is-they-are-so-filled-with-doubts-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder-2/the-problem-with-the-wise-is-they-are-so-filled-with-doubts-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```