In these matters the only certainty is that nothing is certain.
—Pliny the Elder (23–79CE) Roman Statesman, Scholar
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 is no advancement to him who stands trembling because he cannot see the end from the beginning.
—E. J. Klemme American Educator
Uncertainty ! fell demon of our fears! The human soul that can support despair, supports not thee.
—David Mallet (c.1705–1765) Scottish Poet, Dramatist
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
To be uncertain is to be uncomfortable, but to be certain is to be ridiculous.
—Chinese Proverb
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 Art Collector, Philanthropist, Businessperson
He is no wise man who will quit a certainty for an uncertainty.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
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, Novelist
In the face of uncertainty, there is nothing wrong with hope.
—Bernie S. Siegel (b.1932) American Writer, Surgeon
Free man is by necessity insecure; thinking man by necessity uncertain.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
Uncertainty and expectation are the joys of life. Security is an insipid thing, through the overtaking and possessing of a wish discovers the folly of the chase.
—William Congreve (1670–1729) English Playwright, Poet
There is a time for departure, even when there’s no certain place to go.
—Tennessee Williams (1911–83) American Playwright
He who forecasts all perils will never sail the sea.
—Unknown
Hesitation increases in relation to risk in equal proportion to age.
—Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) American Author, Journalist, Short Story Writer
To believe with certainty, we must begin by doubting.
—Polish Proverb
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 Zen Buddhist Master, Pioneer in the United States
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 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
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
Any coward can fight a battle when he’s sure of winning.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
We demand guaranteed rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty.
—Douglas Adams (1952–2001) English Novelist, Scriptwriter
Doubt indulged soon becomes doubt realized.
—Frances Ridley Havergal (1836–79) English Anglican Poet, Hymn Writer
There’s nothing certain in a man’s life except this: That he must lose it.
—Aeschylus (525–456 BCE) Greek Playwright
When in doubt, do it.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841–1935) American Jurist, Author
One doesn’t discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.
—Andre Gide (1869–1951) French Novelist
When nothing is sure, everything is possible.
—Margaret Drabble (b.1939) English Novelist, Critic, Biographer, Short Story Writer
For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.
—Vincent van Gogh (1853–90) Dutch Painter
Unrest and uncertainty, doubt are our lot.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
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
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