confidence

Noun

confidence (uncountable)

1. Self-assurance.
2. Expression or feeling of certainty.
3. The quality of trusting.
4. Information held in secret.

Quotations

• 1956 — Arthur C. Clarke, The City and the Stars, p 39

  Khedron hesitated for a moment, wondering how far he should take Jeserac into his confidence. He knew that Jeserac was kindly and well-intentioned, but he also knew that he must be bound by the same taboos that controlled everyone on Diaspar.

Antonyms

• (self-assurance): fear

Derived terms

• confidence interval
• confidence level

Related terms

• confidant
• confidante
• confident
• confidential
• self-confidence

Confidence is generally described as a state of being certain either that a hypothesis or prediction is correct or that a chosen course of action is the best or most effective. Self-confidence is having confidence in oneself. Arrogance or hubris in this comparison, is having unmerited confidence—believing something or someone is capable or correct when they are not. Overconfidence or presumptuousness is excessive belief, in someone or something, succeeding, without any regard for failure. Scientifically, a situation can only be judged after the aim has been achieved or not. Confidence can be a self-fulfilling prophecy as those without it may fail or not try because they lack it and those with it may succeed because they have it rather than because of an innate ability.

Self-confidence

Self-confidence does not necessarily imply 'self-belief' or a belief in one's ability to succeed. For instance, one may be inept at a particular sport or activity, but remain 'confident' in one's demeanor, simply because one does not place a great deal of emphasis on the outcome of the activity. The key element to self-confidence is, therefore, an acceptance of the myriad consequences of a particular situation, be they good or bad. When one does not dwell on negative consequences one can be more 'self-confident' because one is worrying far less about failure or (more accurately) the disapproval of others following potential failure. One is then more likely to focus on the actual situation which means that enjoyment and success in that situation is also more probable. If there is any 'self-belief' component it is simply a belief in one's ability to tolerate whatever outcome may arise; a certainty that one will cope irrespective of what happens. Belief in one's abilities to perform an activity comes through successful experience and may add to, or consolidate, a general sense of self-confidence.

Quotes regarding Confidence.

Sourced

• Danger breeds best on too much confidence.
  • Pierre Corneille, in Le Cid (1636)

• As is our confidence, so is our capacity.
  • William Hazlitt, in Characteristics (1823)

Unsourced

• Confidence is what you have before you understand the problem.
  • Woody Allen

• He who believes in nobody knows that he himself is not to be trusted.
  • Berthold Auerbach

• People have generally three epochs in their confidence in man. In the first they believe him to be everything that is good, and they are lavish with their friendship and confidence. In the next, they have had experience, which has smitten down their confidence, and they then have to be careful not to mistrust every one, and to put the worst construction upon everything. Later in life, they learn that the greater number of men have much more good in them than bad, and that even when there is cause to blame, there is more reason to pity than condemn; and then a spirit of confidence again awakens within them.
  • Fredrika Bremer

• If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence, you have won before you have started.
  • Marcus Tullius Cicero

From Wikiquote under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Wed Apr 21 11:46:14 2010