Quotes About Certainty

It is an hypothesis that the sun will rise tomorrow: and this means that we do not know whether it will rise.

Dogmatism and skepticism are both, in a sense, absolute philosophies; one is certain of knowing, the other of not knowing. What philosophy should dissipate is certainty, whether of knowledge or ignorance.

When people say, you know, 'Good teacher,' 'Prophet,' 'Really nice guy'... this is not how Jesus thought of Himself. So you're left with a challenge in that, which is either Jesus was who he said he was or a complete and utter nut case. You have to make a choice on that.

Benjamin Franklin said there were only two things certain in life: death and taxes. But I'd like to add a third certainty: trash. And while some in this room might want to discuss reducing taxes, I want to talk about reducing trash.

While there is a chance of the world getting through its troubles, I hold that a reasonable man has to behave as though he were sure of it. If at the end your cheerfulness in not justified, at any rate you will have been cheerful.

I don't judge my effectiveness by how many words I say. I think liberals often see nuances in things... Conservatives tend to see things in black and white. It gives them an air of certainty and conviction that might make them more comfortable to watch.

I kind of muddled through 'Pride & Prejudice,' but with 'Atonement,' I knew what I was doing. That makes it sound like I had no doubt. I had doubts - I didn't know whether it would work. But I knew exactly what I wanted to try to do.

A fighter in his prime needs to stay active. A fighter, who doesn't have certainty when he's going to fight again, it's hard for him to stay mentally ready.

Sometimes the probabilities are very close to certainties, but they're never really certainties.

If you want to be certain, you should never get married. You should never change jobs. In fact, you might as well just stay home. Because I don't know anybody who is certain. That need to be certain is just procrastination.

We are all wrong so often that it amazes me that we can have any conviction at all over the direction of things to come. But we must.

I can assure you that 'Humraaz' will not disappoint.

Of course in science there are things that are open to doubt and things need to be discussed. But among the things that science does know, evolution is about as certain as anything we know.

Our discussions of the economy may sometimes ring in the ears of the public with more certainty than is appropriate.

Art is made to disturb, science reassures.

I'm trying to learn to ask myself: 'Before you dive in are you sure you are right?' It's always safe to assume I'm wrong.

I believe in divine order all the time.

Who's to say who's an expert?

The extremists are talking too loudly, and everyone is convinced that only he is on the right side.

Facts are facts and will not disappear on account of your likes.

Without facts you can't have truth.

I deal in facts.

The one way of guaranteeing to fail is to assume that we will.

Faith is not contrary to reason.