--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Old heads as well as young may sometimes…" description: "\"Old heads as well as young may sometimes be charged with ignorance and presumption. The natural course of the human mind is certainly from credulity to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/thomas-jefferson-43_courses_old-heads-as-well-as-young-may-sometimes_2845377.jpg" --- # Old heads as well as young may sometimes be charged with… ![“Old heads as well as young may sometimes be charged with ignorance and presumption. The natural course of the human mind is certainly from credulity to skepticism.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/thomas-jefferson-43_courses_old-heads-as-well-as-young-may-sometimes_2845377.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/thomas-jefferson-43_courses_old-heads-as-well-as-young-may-sometimes_2845377.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/thomas-jefferson-43_courses_old-heads-as-well-as-young-may-sometimes_2845377.jpg) > “Old heads as well as young may sometimes be charged with ignorance and presumption. The natural course of the human mind is certainly from credulity to skepticism.” [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Youth often assume knowledge; experience teaches skepticism and critical thinking. **In simple terms:** Youth to credulity, age to skepticism. Key Takeaway Cultivate critical inquiry over time. Themes education skepticism growth Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - schooling - public policy - media literacy Key Concepts critical thinking philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How to balance respect for experience with fresh ideas? - What encourages healthy skepticism? A Different Perspective May undervalue youthful insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-mind/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Inexperience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inexperience/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Presumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presumption/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Skepticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skepticism/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [I prefer credulity to skepticism and cynicism for there is more promise in almost anything than in nothing at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-prefer-credulity-to-skepticism-and-cynicism-for-there-is-more/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The natural cause of the human mind is certainly from credulity to skepticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-natural-cause-of-the-human-mind-is-certainly-from-credulity-to/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I had learned to harness ignorance with presumption. I was ready to become an unacknowledged watercolorist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/i-had-learned-to-harness-ignorance-with-presumption-i-was-ready-to/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [They are exactly the persons who are to succeed to the government of our country and to rule its future enmities, its friendships and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/they-are-exactly-the-persons-who-are-to-succeed-to-the-government-of/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I rejoice when I hear of young men of virtue and talents, worthy to receive and likely to preserve the splendid inheritance of self-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-rejoice-when-i-hear-of-young-men-of-virtue-and-talents-worthy-to/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Men possessing minds of the first order and who have had opportunities of being known and of acquiring the general confidence do not abound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/men-possessing-minds-of-the-first-order-and-who-have-had/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Having labored faithfully in establishing the right of self-government, we see in the rising generation, into whose hands it is passing, that purity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/having-labored-faithfully-in-establishing-the-right-of-self/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [When I contemplate the immense advances in science and discoveries in the arts which have been made within the period of my life, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-i-contemplate-the-immense-advances-in-science-and-discoveries-in/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I leave the world and its affairs to the young and energetic, and resign myself to their care, of whom I have endeavored to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-leave-the-world-and-its-affairs-to-the-young-and-energetic-and/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Men of high learning and abilities are few in every country; and by taking in those who are not so, the able part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/men-of-high-learning-and-abilities-are-few-in-every-country-and-by/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It is to them I look, to the rising generation, and not to the one now in power, for these great reformations i.e., emancipation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-to-them-i-look-to-the-rising-generation-and-not-to-the-one-now/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Tell people there's an invisible man in the sky who created the universe, and the vast majority will believe you. Tell them the paint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/tell-people-there-s-an-invisible-man-in-the-sky-who-created-the/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“deluded or not, supporters of superstition and pseudoscience are human beings with real feelings, who, like the skeptics, are trying to figure out how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/deluded-or-not-supporters-of-superstition-and-pseudoscience-are-human/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“The theologian Meric Casaubon argued—in his 1668 book, Of Credulity and Incredulity—that witches must exist because, after all, everyone believes in them. Anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-theologian-meric-casaubon-argued-in-his-1668-book-of-credulity/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [In childhood our credulity serves us well. It helps us to pack, with extraordinary rapidity, our skulls full of the wisdom of our parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/in-childhood-our-credulity-serves-us-well-it-helps-us-to-pack-with/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) ## More by Thomas Jefferson > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/states-and-the-federal-government-are-coordinate-departments-of-one/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-to-the-accidental-opinion-of-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Perceiving the order of nature to be that individual happiness shall be inseparable from the practice of virtue, I am willing to hope it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/perceiving-the-order-of-nature-to-be-that-individual-happiness-shall/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one-step-what-will-be-the-next/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-well-informed-citizenry-is-the-best-defense-against-tyranny/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-two-principles-on-which-our-conduct-towards-the-indians-should-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Knowledge is power...knowled ge is safety...knowle dge is happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/knowledge-is-power-knowled-ge-is-safety-knowle-dge-is-happiness/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Nothing but free argument, raillery and even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/nothing-but-free-argument-raillery-and-even-ridicule-will-preserve/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-the-people-are-afraid-of-the-government-that-s-tyranny-but-when/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-are-created/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Explore all 2,098 Thomas Jefferson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More Courses quotes > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our critical day is not the very day of our death; but the whole course of our life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/our-critical-day-is-not-the-very-day-of-our-death-but-the-whole/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [ Bernie \[Ecclestone\] is the commercial rights holder so the more outgoing the champion is, the better. 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I also do think about our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-ecclestone/bernie-ecclestone-is-the-commercial-rights-holder-so-the-more/) [Bernie Ecclestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-ecclestone/) > [The prediction of nuclear winter is drawn not, of course, from any direct experience with the consequences of global nuclear war, but rather from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-prediction-of-nuclear-winter-is-drawn-not-of-course-from-any/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [We are always saying: Let the Law take its Course but what we really mean is: Let the Law take OUR Course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/we-are-always-saying-let-the-law-take-its-course-but-what-we-really/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-generally-decide-upon-a-middle-course-which-is-most-hazardous-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [I earn my living by teaching film, mostly filmmaking but also teaching courses on current cinema. 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