Quotes About Doubt

El lenguaje es inútil cuando se trata de decir la verdad, de comunicar cosas, sólo permite al que escribe la aproximación, siempre, únicamente, una aproximación desesperada y, por ello, dudosa al objeto, el lenguaje sólo reproduce una autenticidad falsificada, una deformación espantosa, por mucho que el que escribe se esfuerce, las palabras lo aplastan todo contra el suelo y lo dislocan todo y convierten la verdad total en mentira sobre el papel.

I doubted whether this work was truly worth something and was thinking of destroying it upon my return, everything we write down, if we leave it for a while and start reading it from the beginning, naturally becomes unbearable and we won't rest until we've destroyed it again, I thought.

In the knowledge that nothing at all is certain and that nothing at all is perfect, we should, even with the greatest doubts, begin and continue whatever we have determined to do. If we give up each time even before we have started, we eventually find ourselves in desperation, and finally and ultimately we no longer get out of that desperation and are lost.

Several devices he has to draw souls to sin, and several plots he has to keep souls from all holy and heavenly services, and several stratagems he has to keep souls in a mourning, staggering, doubting and questioning condition. He has several devices to destroy the great and honorable, the wise and learned, the blind and ignorant, the rich and the poor, the real and the nominal Christians.

Compelled belief is no belief at all.

For desired conclusions, we ask ourselves, Can I believe this?, but for unpalatable conclusions we ask, Must I believe this?

Her affection for him was now the breath and life of Tess's being; it enveloped her as a photosphere, irradiated her into forgetfulness of her past sorrows, keeping back the gloomy spectres that would persist in their attempts to touch her—doubt, fear, moodiness, care, shame. She knew that they were waiting like wolves just outside the circumscribing light, but she had long spells of power to keep them in hungry subjection there.

I want to question my belief, so that what is left after I have questioned it, will be even stronger.

what I appear, a sick and poor man, is not the worst of me. I am in a chaos of principles--groping in the dark--acting by instinct and not after example. Eight or nine years ago when I came here first, I had a neat stock of fixed opinions, but they dropped away one by one; and the further I get the less sure I am. I doubt if I have anything more for my present rule of life than following inclinations which do me and nobody else any harm, and actually give pleasure to those I love best.

Perhaps you are making a cat's paw of me with Phillotson all this time. Upon my word it almost seems so--to see you sitting up there so prim.

The chief pleasure connected with asking an opinion lies in not adopting it.

The reason of that is, she said eagerly, that he goes in privately by the old tower door, just when the service commences, and sits at the back of the gallery. He told me so. This supreme instance of Troy's goodness fell upon Gabriel ears like the thirteenth stroke of crazy clock. It was not only received with utter incredulity as regarded itself, but threw a doubt on all the assurances that had preceded it.

Well, if you wanted to love me, why do you blow so hot and cold? Why do you... keep tantalizing me? I tell you, Tess, I'd take you for a flirt, For a sit you could catch, If I didn't know just honest and pure you are. Angel

La femme n'étonne jamais autant son compagnon que par cette étrange capacité qu'elle possède de croire en des cajoleries qu'elle sait fausses - sauf, à dire vrai, quand elle se montre ouvertement sceptique vis-à-vis de remarques qu'elle sait être vraies.

The trees overhead deepened the gloom of the hour, and they dripped sadly upon him, impressing him with forebodings—illogical forebodings; for though he knew that he loved her he also knew that he could not be more to her than he was.

for she had penetrated Troy's nature so far as to estimate his tendencies pretty accurately, but unfortunately loved him no less in thinking that he might soon cease to love her—indeed, considerably more.

He won't hurt me. HE'S not in love with me.

In her way, she was a hard one. Faith in any sort of natural justice was nothing but a night light; she knew of that. Whatever she did, she would end the same way with everyone does: flat on her back with a tube in her nose, wondering, Is this all?

Who are you anyway?" Krendler said. "You're not Starling. You've got the spot on your face, but you're not Starling.

That was where Graham lost his faith in .38's.

I wonder why my parents didn't kill me before I was old enough to fool them.

In the very shadows of doubt a thread of reason (so to speak) begins, by whose guidance we shall escape to the clearest light.

That when a thing lies still, unlesse somewhat els stirre it, it will lye still for ever, is a truth that no man doubts of. But that when a thing is in motion, it will eternally be in motion, unless somewhat els stay it, though the reason be the same, (namely, that nothing can change it self,) is not so easily assented to.

Ignorance is preferable to error, and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing than he who believes what is wrong.