“Confidence is the feeling you have before you fully understand the situation”

“Confidence is the feeling you have before you fully understand the situation” is a popular saying in business and finance that has been printed on many gift items, such as posters and T-shirts. “Confidence is the feeling you always have before you know better” has been cited in print since at least 1950. “Confidence is the feeling you sometimes have before you fully understand the situation” has been cited in print since at least 1961.
 
   
8 October 1950, La Crosse (WI) Tribune, “The Coulee Region Speaks,” pg. 17, col. 1:
Early Thought
Confidence is the feeling you always have before you know better.
—Kickapoo Scout
 
29 January 1953, Blue Island (IL) Sun-Standard, pg. 4, col. 4:
Confidence is the feeling you have before you know better.
 
10 November 1961, The Daily Republic (Mitchell, SD), “Hi, Neighbors” by Les Helgeland, pg. 12, col. 5:
YEP!—Someone said: “Confidence is the feeling you sometimes have before you fully understand the situation.”
 
14 November 1961, Winona (MN) Daily News, pg. 5, col. 3:
Confidence is the feeling you sometimes have before you fully understand the situation.
 
2 June 1973, Aberdeen (SD) American News, “Earl Wilson’s New York,” pg. 4, col. 5:
REMEMBERED QUOTE: “Confidence is the feeling you usually have just before you fully understand the situation.”
 
Google News Archive
28 February 1974, The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA), “Shop with Sue” (advertisement), pg. 3, col. 6:
Confidence is the feeling you sometimes have before you fully understand the situation.
 
Google Books
The Complete Book of Practical Proverbs & Wacky Wit
By Vernon K. McLellan
Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers
1996
Pg. 38:
Confidence is the feeling you have before you fully understand the situation.
 
Zero Hedge
“Sense And Nonsense” - Assorted Deep Thoughts
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 08/13/2012 11:06 -0400
(...)
“Confidence is the feeling a person has before he fully understands the situation.”
—Unknown