Something to think about
Certainty feels good. It’s clean, confident, and unambiguous. But sometimes, certainty is just well-disguised ignorance.
That’s why Socrates said:
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”
He wasn’t promoting self-doubt — he was practising discipline.
The discipline of not jumping to conclusions.
Of resisting the urge to pretend you know, when you don’t.
Of keeping your mind open just long enough to learn something new.
In a world that rewards hot takes, fast opinions, and overconfidence, humility isn’t weakness — it’s protection. It shields us from being trapped by our own blind spots.
And when kids (or adults) can say “I don’t know… yet”, they’re not backing down. They’re stepping up to learn.
Something to try
This week, notice a moment when you’re tempted to sound more certain than you really are.
Pause and try this instead:
“I’m not sure — but I’d like to understand it better.”
That’s not hedging. That’s strength in the age of noise.
Something to read
A recent post you might enjoy:
Thinklier
Being bright doesn’t protect you from bias. This post explores how intelligence can actually make us more skilled at rationalising — and why humility matters more than ever.
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See you next Thursday.
— The Thinklier team