--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In philosophy you're never 100% sure…" description: "\"In philosophy you're never 100% sure. You're always undermining what you think you know. That's always been my philosophy and my intellectual ethos.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdb/adam-conover-6921_always_in-philosophy-you-re-never-100-sure-you_2052775.jpg" --- # In philosophy you're never 100% sure. You're always… ![“In philosophy you're never 100% sure. You're always undermining what you think you know. That's always been my philosophy and my intellectual ethos.” quote by Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdb/adam-conover-6921_always_in-philosophy-you-re-never-100-sure-you_2052775.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdb/adam-conover-6921_always_in-philosophy-you-re-never-100-sure-you_2052775.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdb/adam-conover-6921_always_in-philosophy-you-re-never-100-sure-you_2052775.jpg) > “In philosophy you're never 100% sure. You're always undermining what you think you know. That's always been my philosophy and my intellectual ethos.” [Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Philosophy is inherently uncertain; we constantly question our knowledge and beliefs. **In simple terms:** Knowledge is never absolute. Key Takeaway Embrace doubt and keep questioning. Themes uncertainty philosophy intellectual humility Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - academic debate - personal reflection - science research Key Concepts epistemology critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance doubt with decision making? - What beliefs have you re-evaluated recently? A Different Perspective Absolute certainty is impossible; skepticism can hinder action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Intellectual Ethos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual-ethos-3877255/) [Know Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-philosophy-929692/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Philosophy Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-intellectual-3125640/) [Undermining Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undermining-think-3877256/) ## Related quotes > [Philosophy must never be divorced from action. Unless it is put into practice, philosophy is nothing more than an intellectual game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josei-toda/philosophy-must-never-be-divorced-from-action-unless-it-is-put-into/) [Josei Toda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josei-toda/) > [What you can imagine depends on what you know. Philosophers who know only philosophy consign themselves to a janitorial role in the great enterprises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-you-can-imagine-depends-on-what-you-know-philosophers-who-know/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everything your students need to know about philosophy communicated in a way that appeals to them, as well as inspire many of them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ndor-m-rai/everything-your-students-need-to-know-about-philosophy-communicated/) [Sándor Márai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ndor-m-rai/) > [Science is what we know, and philosophy is what we don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/science-is-what-we-know-and-philosophy-is-what-we-don-t-know/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I think I know what Philosophy really is , since knowing him is when you think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-i-know-what-philosophy-really-is-since-knowing-him-is-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If we are to know ourselves, philosophy needs to maintain an ongoing dialogue with the sciences of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lakoff/if-we-are-to-know-ourselves-philosophy-needs-to-maintain-an-ongoing/) [George Lakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lakoff/) > [Philosophy is based on speculation, on logic, on thought, on the synthesis of what we know and on the analysis of what we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/philosophy-is-based-on-speculation-on-logic-on-thought-on-the/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) > [Science is what you know, philosophy is what you don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/science-is-what-you-know-philosophy-is-what-you-don-t-know/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Since philosophy is the art which teaches us how to live, and since children need to learn it as much as we do at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/since-philosophy-is-the-art-which-teaches-us-how-to-live-and-since-2/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Know the philosophy, know the details, and ignore everything in the middle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/know-the-philosophy-know-the-details-and-ignore-everything-in-the/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [A philosopher is a sort of intellectual yokel who gawks at things that sensible people take for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/a-philosopher-is-a-sort-of-intellectual-yokel-who-gawks-at-things/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [“Our minds thus grow in spots; and like grease-spots, the spots spread. But we let them spread as little as possible: we keep unaltered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/our-minds-thus-grow-in-spots-and-like-grease-spots-the-spots-spread/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [I am convinced that we will never build a democratic state based on rule of law if we do not at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/i-am-convinced-that-we-will-never-build-a-democratic-state-based-on/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) ## More by Adam Conover > [Millennials are always on their phones and it's running their lives, but you know who is also on their phones? Moms and Dads and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/millennials-are-always-on-their-phones-and-it-s-running-their-lives/) [Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/) > [I loved 'Beakman's World' growing up. As much as I loved 'Bill Nye,' I always preferred 'Beakman's World' because I thought it was funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/i-loved-beakman-s-world-growing-up-as-much-as-i-loved-bill-nye-i/) [Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/) > [I want to do stories that are about the bits of cultural furniture that are sitting there that we're like, 'Oh yeah, that's been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/i-want-to-do-stories-that-are-about-the-bits-of-cultural-furniture/) [Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/) > [Growing up as a comedian the most influential person on me was Jon Stewart. He showed that comedy could have a real tangible effect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/growing-up-as-a-comedian-the-most-influential-person-on-me-was-jon/) [Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/) > [I want people to know the truth. That's what drives me. That there is truth in the world to know, and once you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/i-want-people-to-know-the-truth-that-s-what-drives-me-that-there-is/) [Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/) > [The Daily Show' was really a turning point, where people started to realize that comedy can have a true cultural impact and can have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/the-daily-show-was-really-a-turning-point-where-people-started-to/) [Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/) > [Your date of birth is a security point for identity theft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/your-date-of-birth-is-a-security-point-for-identity-theft/) [Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/) > [On 'Adam Ruins Everything' we do the broadest sketch comedy possible. We do stuff where you can see it immediately and know it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/on-adam-ruins-everything-we-do-the-broadest-sketch-comedy-possible-we/) [Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/) > [I see myself as an avatar of curiosity and doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/i-see-myself-as-an-avatar-of-curiosity-and-doubt/) [Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/) > [I think that at the end of the day correcting misinformation and questioning what we think we know as a habit of mind is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/i-think-that-at-the-end-of-the-day-correcting-misinformation-and/) [Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/) > [If it weren't for the fellow union members and leaders who have my back, the barons of the TV industry would happily pay me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/if-it-weren-t-for-the-fellow-union-members-and-leaders-who-have-my/) [Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/) > [I went to Bard College, which was a really interesting synthesis of a hippie school and a serious academic institution. It was really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/i-went-to-bard-college-which-was-a-really-interesting-synthesis-of-a/) [Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/) > [It's only when you get towards the top that people start throwing you down a rope. It's like a law of nature, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/it-s-only-when-you-get-towards-the-top-that-people-start-throwing-you/) [Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/) > [Some people are writers and don't ever want to be on camera, some people act and not write - I like writing words for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/some-people-are-writers-and-don-t-ever-want-to-be-on-camera-some/) [Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/) > [I have a lot of family in Marquette. I'm way more familiar with the U.P. than I am with the lower peninsula. I've visited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/i-have-a-lot-of-family-in-marquette-i-m-way-more-familiar-with-the-u/) [Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/) [Explore all 95 Adam Conover quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In philosophy you're never 100% sure. You're always undermining what you think you know. That's always been my philosophy and my intellectual ethos.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Adam Conover" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/in-philosophy-you-re-never-100-sure-you-re-always-undermining-what/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/in-philosophy-you-re-never-100-sure-you-re-always-undermining-what/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdb/adam-conover-6921_always_in-philosophy-you-re-never-100-sure-you_2052775.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdb/adam-conover-6921_always_in-philosophy-you-re-never-100-sure-you_2052775.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdb/adam-conover-6921_always_in-philosophy-you-re-never-100-sure-you_2052775.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In philosophy you're never 100% sure. You're always undermining what you think you know. That's always been…” — Adam Conover", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Adam Conover", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In philosophy you're never 100% sure....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/in-philosophy-you-re-never-100-sure-you-re-always-undermining-what/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/in-philosophy-you-re-never-100-sure-you-re-always-undermining-what/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```