About this quote

It's a strange effect of real self-examination: the closer you look, the smaller your certainties become. Beginners feel capable because they can't yet see what they're missing, while the seasoned notice every gap. Sensing your limits sharply usually means you're finally paying attention.

When to use it

• A teacher of ten years rewrites lessons she once thought flawless, now seeing every rough edge.
• A veteran programmer reviewing old projects winces at shortcuts he was once genuinely proud of.
• A doctor with decades of practice grows more cautious, not less, about jumping to a quick conclusion.