Fear Quote by William James
““I fear to lose truth by the pretension to possess it already wholly.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Will to Believe, 1896
The desire to claim absolute truth can lead to losing genuine understanding.
In simple terms: Pretending to fully know truth can cause loss of truth.
Key Takeaway
Stay humble and open to questioning.
Themes
philosophy
epistemology
humility
truth
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- academic discourse
- personal belief formation
- public debate
- media reporting
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
overconfidence
intellectual honesty
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions might you be clinging to?
- How does humility improve learning?
A Different Perspective
Overconfidence can blind us to new evidence and alternative perspectives.
