Christopher Shays Quotes

I've been very, very careful to tell people what I am qualified to talk about and what I'm not qualified to talk about.

I am not a scientist, but I don't need to be.

Credentialed ignorance is still ignorance.

What's an expert? I read somewhere, that the more a man knows, the more he knows he doesn't know. So I suppose one definition of an expert would be someone who doesn't admit out loud that he knows enough about a subject to know he doesn't really know how much.

I'm lucky. As soon as I open my mouth, people see I know what I'm talking about, and when I leave the room, I think most say, 'She's OK.'

I think it's counterproductive in many ways to pretend to know things you don't. You surround yourself with people who are the real experts.

I'm not a scientist or a mathematician.

People can tell if you don't know what you're talking about.

The reason why the simpler sort are moved with authority, is the consciousness of their own ignorance; whereby it cometh to pass that having learned men in admiration, they rather fear to dislike them than know wherefore they should allow and follow their judgments. Contrariwise with them that are skilful authority is much more strong and forcible; because they only are able to discern how just cause there is why to some men's authority so much should be attributed.

I would have every man write what he knows and no more.

I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.

Knowledge can only be limited. Ignorance is boundless. In recognizing our ignorance, we will touch that which is boundless.

The more I read, the more I acquire, the more certain I am that I know nothing.

Fear and realisation of ignorance, strong medicines against stupid pride.

Timidity betrays want of powers, and audacity a want of skill. There are, indeed, two things, knowledge and opinion, of which the one makes its possessor really to know, the other to be ignorant.

A man who knows the world will not only make the most of everything he does know, but of many things he does not know, and will gain more credit by his adroit mode of hiding his ignorance than the pedant by his awkward attempt to exhibit his erudition.

The more one endeavors to sound the depths of his ignorance the deeper the chasm appears.

I'm confident that I'm as intelligent as many people, but I know that I'm not as intelligent as some. So in the presence of hyperintelligent people, I'm a shrinking violet because I don't want to look like a fool. I know a little about a lot and a lot about a little.

Ask yourself whether you have earned the right to have an opinion. Opinions are easy to produce, so bad ones abound. Knowing that you don't know something is nearly as valuable as knowing it. The worst situation is thinking you know something when you don't.

He who thinks he knows, doesn't know. He who knows that he doesn't know, knows.

The only thing I know for sure is how much I do not know.

And any man who knows a thing, knows he knows not a damn, damn thing at all.

I know all one can know when one knows nothing.

When a wise man does not understand, he says: "I do not understand." The fool and the uncultured are ashamed of their ignorance. They remain silent when a question could bring them wisdom.

To know is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge.