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It isn't what we don't know that gives us trouble, it's what we know that ain't so.
Will Rogers
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Our misconceptions and false beliefs are often more troublesome than our lack of knowledge.

This quote by Will Rogers highlights the critical impact of misinformation and misunderstandings in our lives. It suggests that our reliance on incorrect beliefs can lead to more significant issues than simply lacking knowledge, emphasizing the importance of questioning what we think we know and seeking the truth.

Themes

KnowledgeMisconceptionsTruthWisdomBeliefs

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about common myths, you might say, 'As Will Rogers pointed out, it isn't what we don't know that gives us trouble, it's what we think we know that's wrong.'

More from Will Rogers

I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.
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People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing.
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Why don't they pass a constitutional amendment prohibiting anybody from learning anything? If it works as well as prohibition did, in five years Americans would be the smartest race of people on Earth.
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The 1928 Republican Convention opened with a prayer. If the Lord can see His way clear to bless the Republican Party the way it's been carrying on, then the rest of us ought to get it without even asking.
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Let advertisers spend the same amount of money improving their product that they do on advertising and they wouldn't have to advertise it.
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The man with the best job in the country is the vice-president. All he has to do is get up every morning and say, 'How is the president?'
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