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About this quote

What does it mean?
Being serious does not make something true; errors are often more passionately believed.
In plain terms
People can believe wrong things very strongly while being right about nothing.
What can you take from it?
Passion is not proof of truth.

Where it applies

  • debates
  • fact-checking
  • self-reflection

Putting it to work

  • check facts not just confidence
  • beware loud certainty

Questions to consider

  • When does certainty mislead you?
  • How do you find truth?

Another view

Truth often comes from earnest people too.

More from Benjamin Disraeli

  1. Yes, I have climbed to the top of the greasy pole.

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  2. The secret of success is constancy to purpose.

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  3. In a progressive country change is constant; and the great question is not whether you should resist change which is inevitable, but whether that change should…

    Permalink to quote #40

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