Certainty

"Certainty is the mark of the common-sense life: gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth. This is generally said with a sigh of sadness, it should be rather an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. Immediately we abandon to God, and do the duty that lies nearest, He packs our life with surprises all the time."

"No disorders have employed so many quacks, as those that have no cure; and no sciences have exercised so many quills, as those that have no certainty."

"In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."

"The quest for certainty blocks the search for meaning. Uncertainty is the very condition to impel man to unfold his powers."

"Certainty has become a consumer product. It is marketed the world over–by insurance companies, investment advisers, election campaigns, and the medical industry."

"A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional objectivity. It would be more nearly true to say that it is based upon wonder, adventure and hope."

"Certainty generally is illusion, and repose is not the destiny of man."

"I believe that we do not know anything for certain, but everything probably."

"A woman's guess is much more accurate than a man's certainty."

"We may not be able to get certainty, but we can get probability, and half a loaf is better than no bread."

"It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed."

"Ah, what a dusty answer gets the soul When hot for certainties in this our life!"

"There is no such thing as absolute certainty, but there is assurance sufficient for the purposes of human life."

"As mathematical and absolute certainty is seldom to be attained in human affairs, reason and public utility require that judges and all mankind in forming their opinions of the truth of facts should be regulated by the superior number of the probabilities on the one side or the other whether the amount of these probabilities be expressed in words and arguments or by figures and numbers."

"The scientist believes in proof without certainty, the bigot in certainty without proof."

"What certainty can there be in a Philosophy which consists in as many Hypotheses as there are Phenomena to be explained. To explain all nature is too difficult a task for any one man or even for any one age. 'Tis much better to do a little with certainty, & leave the rest for others that come after you, than to explain all things by conjecture without making sure of any thing."

"What is known for certain is dull."

"Since we can never know anything for sure, it is simply not worth searching for certainty; but it is well worth searching for truth; and we do this chiefly by searching for mistakes, so that we have to correct them."

"Not to be absolutely certain is, I think, one of the essential things in rationality."

"It is said to await certainty is to await eternity."

"Tiedens and Linton (2001) posit that, ―the experience associated with some emotions, such as anger and contentment, can lead to feelings of certainty, while emotions such as surprise, fear and worry can lead individuals to feel uncertain or unsure about their current situation (973). As Tiedens and Linton (2001) argue, the uncertainty which emerges from affect leads individuals to a state of ―bounded rationality. According to Croskerry (2002), ―this is significant for reasoning ability in that individuals in a state of emotionally aroused bounded rationality may fail to consider other important information presented once they have reviewed information that satisfies their own interest (1186). Particularly, individuals might miss specific details or cues needed to better reason. Consequently, when individuals are in a heightened affective state, they might be less likely to process information efficiently, and subsequently, be incapable of attaining a rational conclusion."

"The certainties of one age are the problems of the next."

"I believe in evil. It is the property of all those who are certain of truth. Despair and fanaticism are only differing manifestations of evil."

"Une hypothèse qui permet de prévoir certains effets qui se reproduisent toujours ressemble absolument à une vérité démontrée. Le système de Newton ne repose guère sur un autre fondement. Si en réalité et de l aveu du. [A hypothesis which permits the prediction of certain effects that always reoccur under certain conditions does, in its way amount to a demonstrable certainty. Even the Newtonian system had no more than such a foundation.]"

"Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is an absurd one."

"ONLY THE MADMAN IS ABSOLUTELY SURE."

"If you tried to doubt everything you would not get as far as doubting anything. The game of doubting itself presupposes certainty."