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About this quote

What does it mean?
True experts recognize the limits of their knowledge and avoid overconfidence.
In plain terms
Knowing you know less is a sign of real expertise.
What can you take from it?
Acknowledge your limits to show expertise.

Where it applies

  • professional advice
  • education
  • decision making

Putting it to work

  • stay open to new info
  • avoid claiming total certainty

Questions to consider

  • Do you admit what you don't know?
  • How do you handle uncertainty?

Another view

Overconfidence can sometimes be useful for quick decisions.

More from Malcolm Forbes

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  2. When things are bad, we take comfort in the thought that they could always get worse. And when they are, we find hope in the thought that things are so bad the…

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  3. Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.

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