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About this quote

What does it mean?
Doubt must stay as vigilance not turn into danger.
In plain terms
Keep doubt as alertness not let it become harmful.
What can you take from it?
Use doubt as a tool not a weapon.

Where it applies

  • decision making
  • critique
  • learning

Putting it to work

  • stay alert
  • avoid excessive skepticism

Questions to consider

  • When does doubt become paralyzing?

Another view

Sometimes deep doubt is necessary for truth.

More from Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

  1. Man can acquire accomplishments or he can become an animal, whichever he wants. God makes the animals, man makes himself.

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  2. I am convinced we do not only love ourselves in others but hate ourselves in others too.

    Permalink to quote #57
  3. We say that someone occupies an official position, whereas it is the official position that occupies him.

    Permalink to quote #54

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