---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never affirm anything unless you are sure…"
description: "\"Never affirm anything unless you are sure it is true.\" — Teresa of Avila"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/teresa-of-vila-1246_truth_never-affirm-anything-unless-you-are-sur_2199317.jpg"
---

#  Never affirm anything unless you are sure it is true.

![“Never affirm anything unless you are sure it is true.” quote by Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/teresa-of-vila-1246_truth_never-affirm-anything-unless-you-are-sur_2199317.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/teresa-of-vila-1246_truth_never-affirm-anything-unless-you-are-sur_2199317.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/teresa-of-vila-1246_truth_never-affirm-anything-unless-you-are-sur_2199317.jpg)

> “Never affirm anything unless you are sure it is true.”

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

One should not accept statements as true without personal verification, emphasizing the importance of discernment and truthfulness.

**In simple terms:** Verify before believing.

Key Takeaway

Seek evidence before acceptance.

Themes

truth discernment integrity knowledge skepticism

Mood

cautious inquisitive reflective

Type

philosophical practical

When to use this quote

- research
- decision making
- media consumption
- personal belief formation

Key Concepts

epistemology critical thinking personal responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

- How do we balance trust and skepticism?
- When is it okay to accept without proof?

A Different Perspective

Over‑reliance on verification can hinder trust.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/)

## Related quotes

> [Do not attempt to do a thing unless you are sure of yourself; but do not relinquish it simply because someone else is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-attempt-to-do-a-thing-unless-you-are-sure-of-yourself-but-do/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I am sure that this is true to me I hope its true to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-sure-that-this-is-true-to-me-i-hope-its-true-to-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Please don't lie to me,unless,you're sure I'll never find out the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/please-don-t-lie-to-me-unless-you-re-sure-i-ll-never-find-out-the/)

[Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/)

> [So long as men praise you, you can only be sure that you are not yet on your own true path but on someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/so-long-as-men-praise-you-you-can-only-be-sure-that-you-are-not-yet/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [“The hardest thing you will ever do in life is to know for sure what is true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-p-ching/the-hardest-thing-you-will-ever-do-in-life-is-to-know-for-sure-what/)

[G.P. Ching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-p-ching/)

> [With everything that Tae and I do, we want to make sure it's true and honest to who we are as people and artists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maddie-marlow/with-everything-that-tae-and-i-do-we-want-to-make-sure-it-s-true-and/)

[Maddie Marlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maddie-marlow/)

> [Do not shit on me unless you are very sure you will never need me again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/do-not-shit-on-me-unless-you-are-very-sure-you-will-never-need-me/)

[Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/)

> [I love a ballad in print o' life, for then we are sure they are true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-love-a-ballad-in-print-o-life-for-then-we-are-sure-they-are-true/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Never call anyone a baboon unless you are sure of your facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cuppy/never-call-anyone-a-baboon-unless-you-are-sure-of-your-facts/)

[Will Cuppy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cuppy/)

> [Peace with all the world is my sincere wish. I am sure it is our true policy, and am persuaded it is the ardent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/peace-with-all-the-world-is-my-sincere-wish-i-am-sure-it-is-our-true/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [Unless your not sure,dont run your mouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/unless-your-not-sure-dont-run-your-mouth/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm not going to take a show unless I'm not sure I can do it. You have to have that sort of adrenaline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-johnston/i-m-not-going-to-take-a-show-unless-i-m-not-sure-i-can-do-it-you-have/)

[Joe Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-johnston/)

> [“As they say, it’s possible to kill and to revive someone using a proper speech. I agree with the statement because I know for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sahara-sanders/as-they-say-it-s-possible-to-kill-and-to-revive-someone-using-a/)

[Sahara Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sahara-sanders/)

> [“I am not sure what was true with her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-am-not-sure-what-was-true-with-her/)

[Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/)

> [We never care to know new people unless we are sure we shall like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/we-never-care-to-know-new-people-unless-we-are-sure-we-shall-like-them/)

[Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/)

## More by Teresa of Avila

> [“Of the good things they do many will pass unnoticed, or will even not be considered good at all; but they need not fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/of-the-good-things-they-do-many-will-pass-unnoticed-or-will-even-not/)

[Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [I made you, dear, and all I make is perfect. Please come close, for I desire you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/i-made-you-dear-and-all-i-make-is-perfect-please-come-close-for-i/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [How often I failed in my duty to God, because I was not leaning on the strong pillar of prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/how-often-i-failed-in-my-duty-to-god-because-i-was-not-leaning-on-the/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [Half-instructed confessors have done my soul great harm; for I could not always have such learned ones as I would have desired. They certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/half-instructed-confessors-have-done-my-soul-great-harm-for-i-could/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [Truth suffers, but never dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/truth-suffers-but-never-dies/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [“you will never lack so much of the water of comfort that your thirst will be intolerable;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/you-will-never-lack-so-much-of-the-water-of-comfort-that-your-thirst/)

[Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [Whoever has God lacks nothing. God alone suffices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/whoever-has-god-lacks-nothing-god-alone-suffices/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [Do you know when people really become spiritual? It is when they become the slaves of God and are branded with His sign, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/do-you-know-when-people-really-become-spiritual-it-is-when-they/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [How friendly we should all be with one another if nobody were interested in money and honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/how-friendly-we-should-all-be-with-one-another-if-nobody-were/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [“an unrestrained infatuation with ecstasy and other extraordinary phenomena developed. These experiences were thought of as something to be obtained at all costs. Among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/an-unrestrained-infatuation-with-ecstasy-and-other-extraordinary/)

[Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [“The Lord has no body now on earth but yours, no hands now but yours, no feet now but yours. Yours are the eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/the-lord-has-no-body-now-on-earth-but-yours-no-hands-now-but-yours-no/)

[Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [Our greatest gain is to lose the wealth that is of such brief duration and, by comparison with eternal things, of such little worth;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/our-greatest-gain-is-to-lose-the-wealth-that-is-of-such-brief/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [God has no hands or feet or voice except ours and through these He works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/god-has-no-hands-or-feet-or-voice-except-ours-and-through-these-he/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [His Majesty knows best what is suitable for us. There's no need for us to be advising Him about what He should give us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/his-majesty-knows-best-what-is-suitable-for-us-there-s-no-need-for-us/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [There is no affliction, trial, or labor difficult to endure, when we consider the torments and sufferings which Our Lord Jesus Christ endured for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/there-is-no-affliction-trial-or-labor-difficult-to-endure-when-we/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

[Explore all 267 Teresa of Avila quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

## More Affirm quotes

> [“If you show yourself, you will not be seen. If you affirm yourself, you will not shine. If you boast, you will have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/if-you-show-yourself-you-will-not-be-seen-if-you-affirm-yourself-you/)

[Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/)

> [To affirm a person is to see the good in them that they cannot see in themselves and to repeat it in spite of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/to-affirm-a-person-is-to-see-the-good-in-them-that-they-cannot-see-in/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [“Self-affirm—build yourself up with honest and genuine praise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/self-affirm-build-yourself-up-with-honest-and-genuine-praise/)

[Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/)

> [“But if there is an ongoing, nagging disconnect between, on the one hand, what I can and must affirm to be true and good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-knitter/but-if-there-is-an-ongoing-nagging-disconnect-between-on-the-one-hand/)

[Paul F. Knitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-knitter/)

> [Affirm the body, beautiful and whole, The earth-expression of immortal soul. Affirm the mind, the messenger of the hour, To speed between thee and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/affirm-the-body-beautiful-and-whole-the-earth-expression-of-immortal/)

[Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/)

> [“Summoning gratitude is a sure way to get our life back on track. Opening our eyes to affirm gratitude grows the garden of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-katehakis/summoning-gratitude-is-a-sure-way-to-get-our-life-back-on-track/)

[Alexandra Katehakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-katehakis/)

> [Affirm: I now willingly release all negative beliefs about myself, my life and all other people. I now forgive myself for thinking I ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/affirm-i-now-willingly-release-all-negative-beliefs-about-myself-my/)

[Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/)

> [An affirmation states that a goal is already happening. I'm not crazy about this because, often when we affirm something that is not yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/an-affirmation-states-that-a-goal-is-already-happening-i-m-not-crazy/)

[T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

> [We are here to affirm, not to deny... when we affirm all that is God, all that is not God is automatically denied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/we-are-here-to-affirm-not-to-deny-when-we-affirm-all-that-is-god-all/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [To affirm life is to deepen, to make more inward, and to exalt the will-to-life. At the same time the man who has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/to-affirm-life-is-to-deepen-to-make-more-inward-and-to-exalt-the-will/)

[Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/)

> [“May all you affirm and believe be given the opportunity to manifest - day by day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleesha/may-all-you-affirm-and-believe-be-given-the-opportunity-to-manifest/)

[Eleesha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleesha/)

> [When you affirm your own Tightness in the universe, then you co operate with others easily and automatically as part of your own nature.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-roberts/when-you-affirm-your-own-tightness-in-the-universe-then-you-co/)

[Jane Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-roberts/)

> [“Affirm your life's destiny &amp; purpose to ensure - both are graciously fulfilled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleesha/affirm-your-life-s-destiny-purpose-to-ensure-both-are-graciously/)

[Eleesha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleesha/)

> [Poesy must not be drawn by the ears: it must be gently led, or rather, it must lead, which was partly the cause that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/poesy-must-not-be-drawn-by-the-ears-it-must-be-gently-led-or-rather/)

[Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/)

> [“Like a pair of old slippers, I feel comfort and warmth as I slip into you. No, that is too crude. Like the match…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/like-a-pair-of-old-slippers-i-feel-comfort-and-warmth-as-i-slip-into/)

[Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/)

Browse all 68 Affirm quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Never affirm anything unless you are sure it is true.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Teresa of Avila"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/never-affirm-anything-unless-you-are-sure-it-is-true/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Affirm"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/never-affirm-anything-unless-you-are-sure-it-is-true/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/teresa-of-vila-1246_truth_never-affirm-anything-unless-you-are-sur_2199317.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/teresa-of-vila-1246_truth_never-affirm-anything-unless-you-are-sur_2199317.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/teresa-of-vila-1246_truth_never-affirm-anything-unless-you-are-sur_2199317.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Never affirm anything unless you are sure it is true.” — Teresa of Avila",
                "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": "Teresa of Avila",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Never affirm anything unless you are...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/never-affirm-anything-unless-you-are-sure-it-is-true/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/never-affirm-anything-unless-you-are-sure-it-is-true/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
