Food For Thought: Certainty In The Wake Of Doubt

on 22nd Oct 2012

Bertrand Russell (image by kenneth_rougeau – Flickr.com)

I came across a quote by Bertrand Russell on Facebook the other day. It read: ‎”The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt.”

And I immediately thought: are you certain?

See, I agree with Bertrand Russell – and the person who posted the quote – one hundred percent. But the problem is that the validity of this argument hinges on what the argument itself defines as a symptom of stupidity.

In other words, unless spoken meekly, the quote undermines itself. And if spoken meekly, it doesn’t sound valid.

So, with all due respect, I lean forward and add something to it:

“The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt… except when identifying the difference between the two. Then the intelligent are cocksure, while the stupid remain stupid. Thankfully intelligent words are more resilient than stupid remarks are, delivering their message well after the stupid who used to shun them have passed away, allowing the stupid that have taken their place to embrace them, because it makes them sound smart. And the world progresses slowly. Very slowly.”

To be fair, the person who posted Russell’s quote on Facebook is not an idiot. On the contrary, he is without a doubt one of the smartest individuals I know.

Did I mention that logic can tie people in knots?

About Nicolas D. Sampson

172 points

I write fiction and non-fiction material, from novels, novellas and short stories, to articles, social commentary and aphorisms. Plus the occasional poem. I find faith our biggest asset and religion our biggest liability. I deem progress inevitable so long as...

See full bio »