Deep Quotes
Only doubtful truths need defense.
"Only doubtful truths need defense."— Alan Watts
Download in different sizes
Meaning of this quote
The line questions the urge to defend a belief compulsively, implying that insecurity can drive overjustification. It is a rhetorical claim, not a rule that evidence needs no defense.
Key takeaway:
Ask whether you are clarifying evidence or protecting a threatened identity.
Origin of the quote
The Wisdom of Insecurity (1951), preface.
Who actually said this?
Supplied sentence extracts a short clause from the preface; read it as rhetorical criticism of overjustification.
