“Though the challenges are unprecedented, and though the disagreements are intense, humankind can rise to the occasion if we keep our fears under control and be a bit more humble about our views.”
— Yuval Noah Harari · 1976 –Source: 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, p. 157 (2018) · Check the source
Verified attributionWhat we know
- What is documented
- The passage is reliably attributed to Yuval Noah Harari and appears in the concluding material of 21 Lessons for the 21st Century.
- What remains uncertain
- Attribution is secure, but the supplied wording adds qualifiers (e.g., “technological,” “political”) that are not present in the commonly reproduced sentence from the book.
Understanding the quote
Harari urges a measured response to our era’s upheavals: keeping fear in check and adopting epistemic humility makes collective action more likely to succeed amid rapid technological and social change. This recommendation appears in the conclusion of 21 Lessons for the 21st Century as a call against panic.
The story behind it
Born in 1976 in Kiryat Ata, Harari rose to global fame with Sapiens; he blends broad historical perspective with warnings about technology and data power.
Going further
- The era
- In 2018, as AI, biotech and political polarization were accelerating, Harari issued this appeal for restraint.
- The thinking
- Practical humanism: admit uncertainty, avoid dogma, and prioritize clear, collective problem-solving over confident panic.
- Key word
- Epistemic humility: accepting that our knowledge is limited and likely incomplete.
- Who quoted it
- The sentence is often reproduced in book summaries and cited in public debates during the COVID-19 period.
Three challenges to live it
In the app, you pick the one that fits your day, and in the evening you say how it went.
Write for 12 minutes: list three strong beliefs you hold about a current issue, then for each note one reliable piece of evidence and one plausible uncertainty.
Harari urges intellectual humility; this task makes your assumptions explicit, weighing evidence and doubt so fear-driven judgments lose power.
Before responding to unsettling news today, take a 60-second pause: breathe deeply three times, name the fear quietly, then choose one small next step.
Harari stresses keeping fear under control; this brief ritual reduces reactive panic and creates space for a measured, humble response.
Reach out to someone who disagrees with you on a current issue and ask for 10 minutes to pose three open questions without defending your view; listen to understand.
Harari calls for humility in our views; this listening-first conversation reduces fear of disagreement and surfaces limits and nuances in your beliefs.
How might you hold your fear in check to make clearer decisions about big changes in your life?
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