Quote: The Confidence of Ignorance

Here’s a short quote that could be considered fitting for today, April Fool’s Day, but it’s really worth reflecting on every day.

“Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge.”

– Darwin, The Descent of Man

I see this confidence of ignorance so much in my own life. My tendency is to get fired up and preach from a soapbox about things I haven’t really contemplated and studied, while after I’ve given them some serious thought and/or study, my views become more nuanced. (For some honest examples, see my posts “On Writing and Art: A Breakthrough” and “Rethinking Once Again…Maybe the Middle Ages Weren’t So Bad After All.”)

Interestingly, scientific behavior studies have proven this statement of Darwin’s to be consistently true—see my post “Little Skill, Big Head: The Dunning-Kruger Effect.”

So, here’s to learning, rethinking, growing, questioning ourselves about why we think what we do (especially about things that make us want to get on a soapbox), and staying open to new, surprising truths life might have to show us!

By Oliver Stollmann (Oliver Stollmann) [Attribution], via Wikimedia Commons

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