P. J. O'Rourke Quotes

Learn to say, “I don’t know.”

I am not ashamed to confess that I am ignorant of what I do not know.

Learn to say 'I don't know.' If used when appropriate, it will be often.

Conversation would be vastly improved by the constant use of four simple words: I do not know.

The greatest friend of truth is Time, her greatest enemy is Prejudice, and her constant companion is Humility.

You don't have to have all the answers all the time. But the best thing to know is what you don't know.

I do not know it all and do not claim to.

I know that I am intelligent, because I know that I know nothing.

Let your tongue become accustomed to the words “I do not know”.

I'm never embarrassed to say, 'I don't know.'

To be humane, we must ever be ready to pronounce that wise, ingenious and modest statement 'I do not know'.

Blessed are those who are not afraid to admit that they don't know something

Teach thy tongue to say 'I do not know', and thou shalt progress.

People ask me a question, I'll give them my opinion. I never claimed to have all the answers.

To know yet to think that one does not know is best; Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty.

Clarity and consistency are not enough: the quest for truth requires humility and effort.

He who knows best knows how little he knows.

I don't pretend I know everything.

Without feeling abashed by my ignorance, I confess that I am absolutely unable to say. In the absence of an appearance of learning, my answer has at least one merit, that of perfect sincerity.

When you know a thing, to hold that you know it, and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it - this is knowledge.

Wisdom is keeping a sense of fallibility of all our views and opinions.

The main battle is to make people realise that doubt is important. Doubt is good. The 'don't know' answer sometimes is the box you should tick, and it's about not being scared about that fact. Even the greatest minds don't know everything.

I always entertain the notion that I'm wrong, or that I'll have to revise my opinion. Most of the time that feels good; sometimes it really hurts and is embarrassing.

I know nothing, except the fact of my ignorance.

I don't necessarily agree with everything I say.