It is wrong for a man to say that he is certain of the objective truth of any proposition unless he can produce evidence which logically justifies that certainty.
Thomas HuxleyRead
A well-worn adage advises those who set out upon a great enterprise to count the cost, yet some of the greatest enterprises have succeeded because the people who undertook them did not count the cost.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Sometimes, great accomplishments happen when individuals ignore the potential risks or costs involved.
This quote by Thomas Huxley reflects on the paradox of undertaking significant endeavors. While conventional wisdom suggests a careful assessment of potential costs before starting a project, history shows that many successful ventures are rooted in a boldness that overlooks these costs. This disregard allows individuals to pursue their passions and dreams with an unburdened spirit, often leading to revolutionary outcomes that might not have been attempted if the costs were fully acknowledged.
Themes
RiskDeterminationSuccessVentureCourage
In practice
Example use cases
In a graduation speech to inspire students to take risks in their future careers.
More from Thomas Huxley
All quotes βThe child who has been taught to make an accurate elevation, plan, and section of a pint pot has had an admirable training in accuracy of eye and hand.
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Let us have "sweet girl graduates" by all means. They will be none the less sweet for a little wisdom; and the "golden hair" will not curl less gracefully outside the head by reason of there being brains within.
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The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of childhood into maturity.
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It is the first duty of a hypothesis to be intelligible.
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Of the few innocent pleasures left to men past middle life, the jamming of common sense down the throats of fools is perhaps the keenest.
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