CHECK YOURSELF

"If all printers were determined not to print anything till they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed."

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American statesman/scientist/philosopher.

Mr. Franklin advises us to do and say what need be done and said, knowing there will be those who disagree with us.

Agreed.

But we have an equal obligation to be as certain as we can that what we say and do should be said and done.

Not all of it should be.

THE LIMITS OF PERSONAL CONFIDENCE

"It is a bad plan that admits of no modification."

Publilius Syrus (1st Century BC) Roman writer and poet.

Being sure of yourself is a good thing.

Just not as much as being willing to verify what you believe to be true, actually is.

Not all of it will be.

OF THIS I'M CERTAIN

"Doubt is not a pleasant mental state, but certainty is a ridiculous one."

Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer and historian.

I would have chosen an adjective other than "ridiculous"; one that doesn't leave you wondering why certainty is ridiculous.

It is because there is so little we can be certain about and being certain about uncertain things is extremely dangerous.

THE MIND'S "TRUTHS"

"The mind can assert anything and pretend it has proved it. "

D. H. Lawrence (1885-1930) English writer

Something to think about the next time you're certain.

BEWARE EXTREME CERTAINTY

"In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted."

Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) British logician/philosopher

Whether about religion, politics, or any other silly discussion you might enter into, remember that extremists are those who will not do as Mr. Russell suggests.

NOT ALL OR NONE OF YOU WILL COMPLETELY OR NOT ALL AGREE WITH THIS, ALWAYS OR NEVER

"Some theories are good for nothing except to be argued about."

Georg C. Lichtenberg (1742-1799) German scientist/satirist/anglophile

"Even for practical purposes theory generally turns out the most important thing in the end."

Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894) American author/poet

If you've followed BW for any time at all you might have noticed seemingly contradictory quotes, possibly including these two.

However look carefully and you often see the "back doors" authors leave themselves so as not to appear too all inclusive.

For example, Lichtenberg qualified what would appear to be a condemnation of theory by saying only "some" are good for nothing. And Holmes softened his adding "generally." 

Little in life is "always" or "never", and for those things that are, not "everyone" or "no one" will feel that way, regardless.

You are right to question absolutes.

OF THIS I AM ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN

"The most learned are often the most narrow minded."

William Hazlitt

Late 18th/early 19th century British essayist

Certainly so the more we view our "knowledge" as irrefutable.

Be proud of what you know but do all you can to make sure you really do know it.

And even then, when you are certain, don't always attempt to force it on others.

OF THIS I'M CERTAIN

"I have lived in this world just long enough to look carefully the second time into things that I am the most certain of the first time."

Josh Billings

19th century American humorist/lecturer

"Certainties" are funny things.

They are until they aren't.

Business Certainty

"Only one thing is certain and that is, nothing is certain. And if this statement is true, it is also false."

Ancient unattributed paradox

Looking back at my career, I see there were times when this was all I could count on to be true.

Or was it?

Management Certainty

"Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd."

Voltaire

And why do you think he feels this way?

Isn't the goal to be as certain as possible of the outcome of our decisions?

Confidence: How Sure Do We Need To Be?

"Doubt whom you will, but never yourself."

Christian N. Bovee
19th Century Author

This is one of those quotes that initially strikes me as good but after further reflection I begin to have doubts. The positive part is trust in yourself, set your path then walk it, etc., but what if you're wrong? (Bovee probably wouldn't even tolerate the doubt associated with asking that question.)

Maybe the quote overly simplifies what he really had in mind. Maybe he would tell us to do as Davy Crockett allegedly suggested ("Be sure you're right, then go ahead"), but even that seems difficult to do. There have been many instances in my career where there was no way to "be sure" regarding what I planned to do.

What role does certainty and/or self-confidence play in decision making?