Quotes About Certainty

Thus 'how do we know…?' is transformed into 'by what authority do we claim…?' The latter question is a chimera that may well have wasted more philosophers' time and effort than any other idea. It converts the quest for truth into a quest for certainty (a feeling) or for endorsement (a social status). This misconception is called justificationism.

Although I cannot prove this scenario, I know it—and isn't that the ultimate definition of faith? Knowing what we can't know. Seeing what isn't there.

Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.

I wish I could claim I faced my first day of apostasy with courage and certainty. Yet in truth, I had never felt more afraid.

Time again for the waltz of smiles. Amazing how you sometimes make resolutions, tell yourself everything will be a certain way from now on, and then all it takes is a tiny movement of the lips to shatter your confidence in a certainty that seemed eternal.

Le sonrió, y Nathalie contestó a su sonrisa con otra sonrisa. Habían vuelto las sonrisas. Es curioso cómo a veces uno decide algo muy en serio, se dice que todo será así a partir de ahora, y basta un ínfimo gesto de los labios para quebrar la seguridad de una certeza que parecía casi eterna.

Ils étaient beaux à cette époque, remplis d'une certitude amoureuse qui respirait l'éternité.

The phrases 'certainty is an illusion' and 'think probabilistically about the world', both introduced in the first class, are the first two examples of high-level concepts which Dan calls airport ideas.

For these 'future leaders' in the classroom, it is more important to understand the psychology of certainty. Often, we believe what we want to believe. Dan starts with an example of the 2016 Presidential Election in the United States. He asks the question: "Relative to what you expected to happen, how surprised were you when you learned that Trump had won the election?

Philosophy would render us entirely Pyrrhonian, were not nature too strong for it.

A wise man proportions his belief to the evidence

All knowledge degenerates into probability.

When men are most sure and arrogant, they are commonly the most mistaken, and have then giver views to passion, without that proper deliberation and suspense which can alone secure them from the grossest absurdities.

Hear the verbal protestations of all men: Nothing so certain as their religious tenets. Examine their lives: You will scarcely think that they repose the smallest confidence in them.

To begin with clear and self-evident principles, to advance by timorous and sure steps, to review frequently our conclusions, and examine accurately all their consequences; though by these means we shall make both a slow and a short progress in our systems; are the only methods, by which we can ever hope to reach truth, and attain a proper stability and certainty in our determinations.

In our reasonings concerning fact, there are all imaginable degrees of assurance. A wise man therefore proportions his belief to the evidence.

When any opinion leads us into absurdities, 'tis certainly false; but 'tis not certain an opinion is false, because 'tis of dangerous consequence.

In our reasonings concerning matter of fact, there are all imaginable degrees of assurance, from the highest certainty to the lowest species of moral evidence. A wise man, therefore, proportions his belief to the evidence .

When men are most sure and arrogant they are commonly most mistaken, giving views to passion without that proper deliberation which alone can secure them from the grossest absurdities.

When anyone tells you they have all the answers it is time to race for the exits.

I started having doubts right on top of my certainty.

What He said He would do He always did, and the things we already see fulfilled in His Word simply remind us that what He said about the future will take place just as surely.

Son of man, the people of Israel are saying, "He's talking about the distant future. His visions won't come true for a long, long time." Therefore, tell them, "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: No more delay! I will now do everything I have threatened. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!" (Ezekiel 12:27-28 NLT)

Thus, reason tells us that it is rational to accept what reason alone cannot demonstrate.