Absolute certainty Quote by Andrew Ryan
“Could I have made mistakes? One does not build cities if one is guided by doubt. But can one govern in absolute certainty? I know that my beliefs have elevated me, just as I know that the things I have rejected would have destroyed me. But the city... it is collapsing before my... have I become so convinced by my own beliefs that I have stopped seeing the truth? Perhaps. But Atlas is out there, and he aims to destroy me, and destroy my city. To question is to surrender. I will not question.”
About This Quote
Source Video Game: Bioshock, 2007
The speaker doubts whether certainty is wise, suggesting that rigid belief can blind one to truth and lead to downfall.
In simple terms: Blind certainty can cause collapse.
Key Takeaway
Question your convictions.
Themes
certainty
self‑deception
leadership
truth
Mood
anxious
reflective
Type
philosophical
dramatic
When to use this quote
- making decisions
- evaluating beliefs
- governing a community
- personal growth
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
political power
Questions to Reflect On
- What beliefs might you be ignoring?
- How can doubt improve leadership?
A Different Perspective
Overconfidence may ignore warning signs.
![“We do know, with absolute certainty, that [Saddam] is using his procurement system to acquire the equipment he needs in order to enrich uranium to build a nuclear weapon.” quote by Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cb4/dick-cheney-1810_absolute-certainty_we-do-know-with-absolute-certainty-that_363969.jpg)
