In the face of uncertainty, there is nothing wrong with hope.
—Bernie S. Siegel (b.1932) American Physician, Writer
To teach how to live with uncertainty, yet without being paralyzed by hesitation, is perhaps the chief thing that philosophy can do.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
When one devotes oneself to meditation, mental burdens, unnecessary worries, and wandering thoughts drop off one by one; life seems to run smoothly and pleasantly. A student may now depend on intuition to make decisions. As one acts on intuition, second thought, with its dualism, doubt and hesitation, does not arise.
—Nyogen Senzaki (1876–1958) Japanese Buddhist Monk
Any coward can fight a battle when he’s sure of winning.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
A free press can of course be good or bad, but, most certainly, without freedom it will never be anything but bad… . Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better, whereas enslavement is a certainty of the worse.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
A person who doubts himself is like a man who would enlist in the ranks of his enemies and bear arms against himself. He makes his failure certain by himself being the first person to be convinced of it.
—Alexandre Dumas pere (1802–1870) French Novelist, Playwright
There’s nothing certain in a man’s life except this: That he must lose it.
—Aeschylus (525–456 BCE) Greek Poet
Education is the path from cocky ignorance to miserable uncertainty.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
The unknown is what it is. And to be frightened of it is what sends everybody scurrying around chasing dreams, illusions, wars peace, love, hate, all that. Unknown is what it is. Accept that it’s unknown, and it’s plain sailing.
—John Lennon (1940–80) British Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Activist
Not to be absolutely certain is, I think, one of the essential things in rationality.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
There is only one thing about which I am certain, and this is that there is very little about which one can be certain.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
The man who insists upon seeing with perfect clearness before he decides, never decides. Accept life, and you must accept regret.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
In contemplation, if a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties. They are ill discoverers that think there is no land, when they can see nothing but sea.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
There is no such uncertainty as a sure thing.
—Robert Burns (1759–96) Scottish Poet, Songwriter
In these matters the only certainty is that nothing is certain.
—Pliny the Elder (23–79CE) Roman Statesman, Scholar
Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
I think the worst thing this nation could do for humanity would be to leave any uncertainty as to our will, our purpose and our capacity to carry out our purpose.
—Hubert Humphrey (1911–78) American Head of State, Politician
Self-distrust is the cause of most of our failures.—In the assurance of strength there is strength; and they are the weakest, however strong, who have no faith in themselves or their powers.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
Uncertainty and expectation are the joys of life. Security is an insipid thing.
—William Congreve (1670–1729) English Playwright, Poet
There is no advancement to him who stands trembling because he cannot see the end from the beginning.
—E. J. Klemme American Educator
The only thing that makes life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertainty; not knowing what comes next.
—Ursula K. Le Guin (b.1929) American Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer
No great deed is done by falterers who ask for certainty.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
The quest for certainty blocks the search for meaning. Uncertainty is the very condition to impel man to unfold his powers.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
There is one thing certain, namely, that we can have nothing certain; therefore it is not certain that we can have nothing certain.
—Samuel Butler
There is a time for departure, even when there’s no certain place to go.
—Tennessee Williams (1911–83) American Playwright
Ah, what a dusty answer gets the soul when hot for certainties in this, our life.
—George Meredith (1828–1909) British Novelist, Poet, Critic
To believe with certainty, we must begin by doubting.
—Polish Proverb
When I was young I was sure of everything; in a few years, having been mistaken a thousand times, I was not half so sure of most things as I was before; at present, I am hardly sure of anything but what God has revealed.
—John Wesley (1703–91) British Methodist Religious Leader, Preacher, Theologian
When nothing is sure, everything is possible.
—Margaret Drabble (b.1939) English Novelist, Biographer, Critic, Short Story Writer
Certitude is not the test of certainty. We have been cocksure of many things that were not so.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841–1935) American Jurist, Author
Many live in dread of what is coming. Why should we? The unknown puts adventure into life … The unexpected around the corner gives a sense of anticipation and surprise. Thank God for the unknown future.
—E. Stanley Jones (1884–1973) American Methodist Priest, Theologian
I’m delighted that the future is unsure. That’s the way it should be.
—William Sloane Coffin (1924–2006) American Presbyterian Clergyman, Peace Activist
Without the element of uncertainty, the bringing off of even, the greatest business triumph would be dull, routine, and eminently unsatisfying.
—J. Paul Getty (1892–1976) American Business Person, Art Collector, Philanthropist
Doubt is not a pleasant mental state, but certainty is a ridiculous one.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
Doubt whom you will, but never yourself.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
The grand perhaps! We look on helplessly, there the old misgivings, crooked questions are.
—Robert Browning (1812–89) English Poet
Uncertainty ! fell demon of our fears! The human soul that can support despair, supports not thee.
—David Mallet (c.1705–1765) Scottish Poet, Dramatist
Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
A bitter and perplexed, “What shall I do?” is worse to man than worst necessity.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
When we are not sure, we are alive.
—Graham Greene (1904–91) British Novelist, Playwright, Short Story Writer
When one admits that nothing is certain one must, I think, also admit that some things are much more nearly certain than others.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
All business proceeds on beliefs, or judgments of probabilities, and not on certainties.
—Charles William Eliot (1834–1926) American Educationalist
The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
To be uncertain is to be uncomfortable, but to be certain is to be ridiculous.
—Chinese Proverb
We need to practice acting in spite of fear, in spite of doubt, in spite of worry, in spite of uncertainty, in spite of inconvenience, in spite of discomfort, and even to practice acting when we’re not in the mood to act.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
The greatest loss of time is delay and expectation, which depend upon the future. We let go the present, which we have in our power, and look forward to that which depends upon chance, and so relinquish a certainty for an uncertainty.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
We demand guaranteed rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty.
—Douglas Adams (1952–2001) English Novelist, Scriptwriter
What Shakespeare says of doubts is equally true of vacillation and uncertainty of purpose, “that they make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.”‘
—Charles Simmons (1924–2017) American Editor, Novelist