About this quote

The line calls out careless certainty and forces you to stop treating guesses like facts. Own what you say: verify before you assert, because accidental correctness does not erase moral responsibility. Ask yourself — are you speaking to cover a gap or to share verified truth? Change starts with admitting what you don't know and checking before you claim.

When to use it

• Before posting a hot take on social media, pause and check the source so you don't spread an unverified claim.
• In a meeting, if you aren’t sure about a number or fact, say you need to verify it instead of bluffing an answer.
• When giving feedback to someone, base your criticism on observed facts, not assumptions you haven’t confirmed.
• If a decision depends on an uncertain detail, flag it and get the facts rather than moving forward on a guess.