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About this quote

What does it mean?
Claiming absolute authority over truth and knowledge is arrogant and leads to failure. Humility is essential when discussing knowledge.
In plain terms
Don't claim to know all truth; it leads to failure.
What can you take from it?
Stay humble when judging truth or knowledge.

Where it applies

  • Debates
  • Leadership
  • Academic discourse

Putting it to work

  • Avoid absolute claims
  • Listen to others
  • Stay open-minded

Questions to consider

  • When did pride hurt your judgment?
  • Who taught you humility?

Another view

Some domains require confident assertion to be effective.

More from Albert Einstein

  1. Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.

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  2. Yes, we have to divide up our time like that, between our politics and our equations. But to me our equations are far more important, for politics are only a m…

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  3. What really interests me is whether God had any choice in the creation of the world.

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