Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
True wisdom involves discarding outdated beliefs alongside gaining new ones.
In plain terms
Wisdom means learning what to stop believing too.
What can you take from it?
Regularly review and discard old assumptions.

Where it applies

  • updating mental models
  • career shifts
  • policy review

Putting it to work

  • audit your beliefs
  • challenge habits
  • seek disconfirming evidence

Questions to consider

  • What outdated belief are you holding?
  • What should you unlearn today?

Another view

Letting go of useful skills can be risky.

More from Larry Niven

  1. God was knocking, and he wanted in bad.

    Permalink to quote #4

  2. Everything starts as somebody's daydream.

    Permalink to quote #6

  3. Think of it as evolution in action.

    Permalink to quote #3

Related quotes

  1. To a great experience one thing is essential - an experiencing nature.

    Walter BagehotWalter Bagehot quote #18

  2. Emptiness the starting point. - In order to taste my cup of water you must first empty your cup. My friend, drop all you preconceived and fixed ideas and be ne…

    Bruce LeeBruce Lee quote #25

  3. The fear of God is not the beginning of wisdom. The fear of God is the death of wisdom. Skepticism and doubt lead to study and investigation, and investigation…

    Clarence DarrowClarence Darrow quote #47