I also like this one:

"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." - Bertrand Russell

Reminds me of a Robert Hughes quip: "The greater the artist, the greater the doubt; perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize".

Is Yeats saying lack of conviction is a good thing? Or commenting on the fact that the wrong people have conviction?

I have always read that as "The good people are paralyzed by doubt (right now)" - a bad thing for them and for us. The context is a list of ways the world is falling apart.

Yes he is saying that lack of conviction is a good thing.

Even though the verse context is listing a bunch of bad things that are happening?

Bad thing;

Bad thing;

Bad thing,

Bad thing, and

Bad thing;

Good thing, and Good thing!

How sure are you about this?

+1 for Yeats

You two might not realize how happy that makes me feel. It's like when I discovered how popular the Master and Margarita is on HN. Never underestimate the depth and diversity of interests among your peers!

Ha, I just finished that book after being turned on it by HN. Thanks, everyone!

I just found another google search.