--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is wise to be sure, but otherwise to…" description: "\"It is wise to be sure, but otherwise to be too sure.\" — Sophie Irene Loeb" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a06/sophie-irene-loeb-38947_certainty_it-is-wise-to-be-sure-but-otherwise-to-b_1065734.jpg" --- # It is wise to be sure, but otherwise to be too sure. ![“It is wise to be sure, but otherwise to be too sure.” quote by Sophie Irene Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a06/sophie-irene-loeb-38947_certainty_it-is-wise-to-be-sure-but-otherwise-to-b_1065734.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a06/sophie-irene-loeb-38947_certainty_it-is-wise-to-be-sure-but-otherwise-to-b_1065734.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a06/sophie-irene-loeb-38947_certainty_it-is-wise-to-be-sure-but-otherwise-to-b_1065734.jpg) > “It is wise to be sure, but otherwise to be too sure.” [Sophie Irene Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-irene-loeb/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being cautious is wise, but excessive certainty can be harmful. **In simple terms:** Be careful, but avoid overconfidence. Key Takeaway Balance confidence with humility. Themes decision making confidence wisdom Mood reflective pragmatic Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - business strategy - personal growth - scientific research - leadership Key Concepts critical thinking self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - When have you been too sure? - How can you check assumptions? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can lead to blind spots. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) ## Related quotes > [Take time to be sure, but be sure not to take too much time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-time-to-be-sure-but-be-sure-not-to-take-too-much-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Sure. Sure you have. I never forget a face.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/sure-sure-you-have-i-never-forget-a-face/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I have always been so sure - too sure... But now I am very humble and I say like a little child: "I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-have-always-been-so-sure-too-sure-but-now-i-am-very-humble-and-i/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [There is no such uncertainty as a sure thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/there-is-no-such-uncertainty-as-a-sure-thing/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Criticism, though dignified from the earliest ages by the labours of men eminent for knowledge and sagacity, has not yet attained the certainty and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/criticism-though-dignified-from-the-earliest-ages-by-the-labours-of/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Life is the school of the wise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/life-is-the-school-of-the-wise/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [We’re neither pure, nor wise, nor good; we do the best we know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/we-re-neither-pure-nor-wise-nor-good-we-do-the-best-we-know/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Sum up at night what thou hast done by day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/sum-up-at-night-what-thou-hast-done-by-day/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [The evil which does me no harm is like the good which in no wise avails me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/the-evil-which-does-me-no-harm-is-like-the-good-which-in-no-wise/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Nature, being a wise and provident lady, governs her parts very wisely, methodically, and orderly: Also, she is very industrious and hates to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cavendish/nature-being-a-wise-and-provident-lady-governs-her-parts-very-wisely/) [Margaret Cavendish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cavendish/) > [Prefer to be defeated in the presence of the wise than to excel among fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prefer-to-be-defeated-in-the-presence-of-the-wise-than-to-excel-among/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If I meet a wise person, I think, 'Yes, tell me more about parenting, about marriage, about how to stay in love. Tell me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/min-jin-lee/if-i-meet-a-wise-person-i-think-yes-tell-me-more-about-parenting/) [Min Jin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/min-jin-lee/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) ## More by Sophie Irene Loeb > [What is Paris? ... Where nobody throws stones, for all live in glass houses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-irene-loeb/what-is-paris-where-nobody-throws-stones-for-all-live-in-glass-houses/) [Sophie Irene Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-irene-loeb/) > [A friend is one who withholds judgment no matter how long you have his unanswered letter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-irene-loeb/a-friend-is-one-who-withholds-judgment-no-matter-how-long-you-have/) [Sophie Irene Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-irene-loeb/) > [The penalty of greatness is to write autographs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-irene-loeb/the-penalty-of-greatness-is-to-write-autographs/) [Sophie Irene Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-irene-loeb/) > [Enough of anything is plenty, but plenty to some people is never enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-irene-loeb/enough-of-anything-is-plenty-but-plenty-to-some-people-is-never-enough/) [Sophie Irene Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-irene-loeb/) > [There are two kinds of trouble: The kind you have and the kind you haven't. There are but few of the first sort, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-irene-loeb/there-are-two-kinds-of-trouble-the-kind-you-have-and-the-kind-you/) [Sophie Irene Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-irene-loeb/) > [Some people are jewels in the wrong setting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-irene-loeb/some-people-are-jewels-in-the-wrong-setting/) [Sophie Irene Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-irene-loeb/) > [The line of least resistance is to most people the lifeline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-irene-loeb/the-line-of-least-resistance-is-to-most-people-the-lifeline/) [Sophie Irene Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-irene-loeb/) > [Never expect too much from a friend and you will never want for one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-irene-loeb/never-expect-too-much-from-a-friend-and-you-will-never-want-for-one/) [Sophie Irene Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-irene-loeb/) > [Riches may not bring happiness, but neither does poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-irene-loeb/riches-may-not-bring-happiness-but-neither-does-poverty/) [Sophie Irene Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-irene-loeb/) > [Platonic friendship-the interval between the introduction and the first kiss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-irene-loeb/platonic-friendship-the-interval-between-the-introduction-and-the/) [Sophie Irene Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-irene-loeb/) [Explore all 11 Sophie Irene Loeb quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-irene-loeb/) ## 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": "It is wise to be sure, but otherwise to be too sure.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sophie Irene Loeb" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-irene-loeb/it-is-wise-to-be-sure-but-otherwise-to-be-too-sure/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Certainty" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-irene-loeb/it-is-wise-to-be-sure-but-otherwise-to-be-too-sure/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a06/sophie-irene-loeb-38947_certainty_it-is-wise-to-be-sure-but-otherwise-to-b_1065734.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a06/sophie-irene-loeb-38947_certainty_it-is-wise-to-be-sure-but-otherwise-to-b_1065734.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a06/sophie-irene-loeb-38947_certainty_it-is-wise-to-be-sure-but-otherwise-to-b_1065734.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is wise to be sure, but otherwise to be too sure.” — Sophie Irene Loeb", "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": "Sophie Irene Loeb", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-irene-loeb/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is wise to be sure,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-irene-loeb/it-is-wise-to-be-sure-but-otherwise-to-be-too-sure/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-irene-loeb/it-is-wise-to-be-sure-but-otherwise-to-be-too-sure/#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 } } ] } ```