Never assume the obvious is true.

The maxim cautions against treating what seems self-evident as settled fact. “Obvious” conclusions are often products of habit, bias, incomplete information, or social consensus rather than verification. Read as practical advice—especially in journalism, politics, and argumentation—it urges checking premises, asking for evidence, and considering alternative explanations before acting or asserting. Its sting lies in the paradox: the more “obvious” something feels, the less rigor people apply to it, making it a common entry point for error. The quote thus champions skepticism and disciplined inquiry over complacent certainty.