Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker implies the listener already knows the answer to a question and does not need confirmation.
In plain terms
You already know the answer, so I do not need to tell you.
What can you take from it?
Trust your own knowledge when you already understand the situation.

Where it applies

  • during reviews
  • in decision-making
  • when testing understanding

Putting it to work

  • ask probing questions
  • avoid over-explaining
  • encourage self-reflection

Questions to consider

  • What do you already know about this topic?
  • How can you trust your own judgment?

Another view

It may come across as dismissive if the listener is unsure.

More from Hyman G. Rickover

  1. The Quakers have an excellent approach to thinking through difficult problems, where a number of intelligent and responsible people must work together. They me…

    Permalink to quote #12
  2. Any one detail, followed through to its source, will usually reveal the general state of readiness of the whole organization.

    Permalink to quote #14
  3. Nothing so sharpens the thought process as writing down one's arguments. Weaknesses overlooked in oral discussion become painfully obvious on the written page.

    Permalink to quote #11

Related quotes

  1. I am at heart a propagandist, a tremendous hater, a tiresome nag, complacently positive that there is no human problem which could not be solved if people woul…

    Gore VidalGore Vidal quote #1
  2. My major hobby is teasing people who take themselves and the quality of their knowledge too seriously and those who don't have the guts to sometimes say: I don…

    Nassim Nicholas TalebNassim Nicholas Taleb quote #1
  3. 'I think I know it all, relatively speaking.'

    Gene SimmonsGene Simmons quote #9