“Intuition is something that is ahead of accurate knowledge.”
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Attribution note
This wording appears nowhere on Wikiquote (sourced or otherwise) and in no identified Tesla text; it circulates on Facebook/YouTube/quote sites. The genuine My Inventions line uses 'instinct... transcends knowledge', so this reads as quote-site rewording.
Likely origin: Unsourced; likely a paraphrase of 'But instinct is something which transcends knowledge. We have, undoubtedly, certain finer fibers that enable us to perceive truths...' from Tesla's My Inventions (1919).
Review the attribution sourceAbout this quote
Accept that your gut often spots signals before you can prove them. Do not worship the feeling or hide behind it — use it as a prompt to act, test, and gather evidence quickly. Take responsibility: convert hunches into verified choices through disciplined experiments and focused work.
When to use it
- When a project at work feels doomed, build a quick prototype to test the hunch instead of running endless meetings.
- If a business idea lights you up but research is thin, validate with a small landing page or presales rather than waiting for full studies.
- When a relationship or hire feels off, ask direct questions and verify facts instead of letting doubt fester.
- Use gut instinct as a lead indicator: act fast with a controlled test, learn, and iterate rather than hoping the feeling proves true on its own.