[Ads-l] Proverb Origin: Don't Believe Everything You Think

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

On January 9, 2026 Jonathan Lighter wrote about the saying in the
subject line. JL's message inspired the creation of a Quote
Investigator article located here:
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2026/02/02/believe-think/

Here is an overview with dates which summarizes the evolution:

1845: Believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see (Edgar Allan Poe)

1898: Don’t believe anything you think and only half what you know (Anonymous)

1925: It’s a great life if you don’t believe everything you see, hear,
think or know (Tom Sims)

1926: Don’t believe everything you know (Student Verlie)

1930: Don’t believe everything you think and see when watching a
football game (George Stracke)

1934: Don’t believe everything you think, especially today (Sidney K. Bennett)

1940: Never believe anything you think at the end of a hard day’s work (Diana)

1949: Don’t believe everything you think (Clayton Rawson)

1953: Don’t believe everything you think you know (Mary Margaret McBride)

1974: Don’t believe everything you think (Advertisement for TV Guide)

1997: Don’t believe everything you think (Bumper sticker)

[Begin acknowledgement]
Great thanks to Jonathan Lighter whose message led QI to formulate
this question and perform this exploration. Lighter found several
valuable citations, e.g., the 1930, 1934, and 1949 citations listed
above.
[End acknowledgement]

Feedback welcome
Garson O'Toole

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