I Like this Aphorism

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Arnold Kling

relayed by Scott Alexander:

There’s an old philosophers’ saying – trust those who seek the truth, distrust those who say they’ve found it.

Can anyone source this? I see Andre Gide quoted as saying “trust those who seek the truth; doubt those who find it,” but I cannot find an essay or book to cite.

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6 Responses to I Like this Aphorism

  1. S says:
    September 4, 2015 at 9:57 am

    I am still seeking the source :)

  2. Andrew' says:
    September 4, 2015 at 10:11 am

    I am 110% certain it was Paul Krugman.

  3. Dan Drechsel says:
    September 4, 2015 at 11:15 am

    There is a web site called quote investigator, if they pick up your request they do a great job tracing it.

  4. Dan Drechsel says:
    September 4, 2015 at 11:19 am

    Never mind, they already did it.
    1952 – “QI believes that André Gide should be credited with the statements in French and English that are cited above. His remarks were widely disseminated and influenced other writers and thinkers.”
    http://quoteinvestigator.com/2013/11/14/seekers/

  5. Gary Steinmetz says:
    September 4, 2015 at 1:30 pm

    Would the application of this saying discredit the advocation of Any religious/political system?

  6. drycreekboy says:
    September 4, 2015 at 2:18 pm

    Substitute “fact” for “truth” and I think the aphorism is pretty good. Otherwise the statement is fatally self-referential (i.e. it states a found truth).

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