--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Scientists do not believe in fundamental…" description: "\"Scientists do not believe in fundamental and absolute certainties. For the scientist, certainty is never an end, but a search; not the ordering of cert..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/ashley-montagu-9564_absolute-certainty_scientists-do-not-believe-in-fundamental_1424380.jpg" --- # Scientists do not believe in fundamental and absolute… ![“Scientists do not believe in fundamental and absolute certainties. For the scientist, certainty is never an end, but a search; not the ordering of certainty, but its exploration. For the scientist, certainty represents the highest degree of probability.” quote by Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/ashley-montagu-9564_absolute-certainty_scientists-do-not-believe-in-fundamental_1424380.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/ashley-montagu-9564_absolute-certainty_scientists-do-not-believe-in-fundamental_1424380.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/ashley-montagu-9564_absolute-certainty_scientists-do-not-believe-in-fundamental_1424380.jpg) > “Scientists do not believe in fundamental and absolute certainties. For the scientist, certainty is never an end, but a search; not the ordering of certainty, but its exploration. For the scientist, certainty represents the highest degree of probability.” [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science embraces uncertainty, viewing it as a path to deeper understanding rather than a final answer. **In simple terms:** Science seeks truth, not certainty. Key Takeaway Value inquiry over certainty. Themes science uncertainty inquiry Mood curious analytical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - research design - policy making - education reform Key Concepts probability philosophy of science Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle unknowns? - What role does probability play in decisions? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on certainty can stifle innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolute certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-certainty/) [Absolutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutes/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Certainties Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainties-scientist-5053642/) [Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) [Certainty End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty-end-4617151/) [Certainty Represents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty-represents-5053641/) [Degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Exploration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exploration/) [Fundamentals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentals/) [Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highest/) [Probability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/probability/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Scientist Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist-certainty-5053640/) [Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/) ## Related quotes > [“There is always the easy way out, although I am loath to use it. 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A man must try to whip order into a yelping pack of probabilities, and uniform success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-vance/there-are-no-absolute-certainties-in-this-universe-a-man-must-try-to/) [Jack Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-vance/) > [The emotionally mature individual should completely accept the fact that we live in a world of probability and chance, where there are not, nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-emotionally-mature-individual-should-completely-accept-the-fact/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [Absolute certainty is a privilege of uneducated minds and fanatics. - It is, for scientific folk, an unattainable ideal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassius-jackson-keyser/absolute-certainty-is-a-privilege-of-uneducated-minds-and-fanatics-it/) [Cassius Jackson Keyser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassius-jackson-keyser/) > [The hope we have in Christ is an absolute certainty. 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Those who have not the same warrant for their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/i-speak-with-absolute-certainty-only-so-far-as-my-own-personal-belief/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > [Faith to me is having absolute certainty that God is in control of my life and that He has my best interests at heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ellis/faith-to-me-is-having-absolute-certainty-that-god-is-in-control-of-my/) [Dan Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ellis/) > [“There is no such thing as absolute certainty, but there is assurance sufficient for the purposes of human life. —JOHN STUART MILL”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-christian/there-is-no-such-thing-as-absolute-certainty-but-there-is-assurance/) [Brian Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-christian/) > [“She knew with chilling and absolute certainty she was next.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-grace/she-knew-with-chilling-and-absolute-certainty-she-was-next/) [Alexa Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-grace/) > [ We do know, with absolute certainty, that \[Saddam\] is using his procurement system to acquire the equipment he needs in order to enrich uranium… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/we-do-know-with-absolute-certainty-that-saddam-is-using-his/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Audiences aren't going to get rid of me. One thing I can say, with absolute certainty, is that my shows will still be performed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-mackintosh/audiences-aren-t-going-to-get-rid-of-me-one-thing-i-can-say-with/) [Cameron Mackintosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-mackintosh/) > [Fundamentalists believe that we don't believe in anything. In their view of the world, they are in possession of absolute certainties, while we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/fundamentalists-believe-that-we-don-t-believe-in-anything-in-their/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [Sometimes we have the absolute certainty there's something inside us that's so hideous and monstrous that if we ever search it out we won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr/sometimes-we-have-the-absolute-certainty-there-s-something-inside-us/) [Hubert Selby, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr/) ## More by Ashley Montagu > [Love is the supreme form of communication. In the hierarchy of needs, love stands as the supreme developing agent of the humanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/love-is-the-supreme-form-of-communication-in-the-hierarchy-of-needs/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [The whole of life is a journey toward youthful old age, toward self-contemplation, love, gaiety, and, in a fundamental sense, the most gratifying time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/the-whole-of-life-is-a-journey-toward-youthful-old-age-toward-self/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [Human beings are the only creatures who are able to behave irrationally in the name of reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/human-beings-are-the-only-creatures-who-are-able-to-behave/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [Human communication, 'as the saying goes, is a clash of symbols' it covers a multitude of signs. 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Boys marry because of a chronic irritation that causes them to gravitate in the direction of objects with certain curvilinear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/girls-marry-for-love-boys-marry-because-of-a-chronic-irritation-that/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [The indications are that swearing preceded the development of cursing. That is, expletives, maledictions, exclamations, and imprecations of the immediately explosive or vituperative kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/the-indications-are-that-swearing-preceded-the-development-of-cursing/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [The family is the basis of society. As the family is, so is the society, and it is human beings who make a family-not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/the-family-is-the-basis-of-society-as-the-family-is-so-is-the-society/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [I want to die young at a ripe old age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/i-want-to-die-young-at-a-ripe-old-age/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [The idea of "race" represents one of the most dangerous myths of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/the-idea-of-race-represents-one-of-the-most-dangerous-myths-of-our/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [The measure of man's humanity is the extent and intensity of his love for mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/the-measure-of-man-s-humanity-is-the-extent-and-intensity-of-his-love/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [To admit ignorance is to exhibit wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/to-admit-ignorance-is-to-exhibit-wisdom/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) [Explore all 71 Ashley Montagu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) ## More Absolute certainty quotes > [Sometimes we have the absolute certainty there's something inside us that's so hideous and monstrous that if we ever search it out we won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr/sometimes-we-have-the-absolute-certainty-there-s-something-inside-us/) [Hubert Selby, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr/) > [Fundamentalists believe that we don't believe in anything. 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One thing I can say, with absolute certainty, is that my shows will still be performed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-mackintosh/audiences-aren-t-going-to-get-rid-of-me-one-thing-i-can-say-with/) [Cameron Mackintosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-mackintosh/) > [ We do know, with absolute certainty, that \[Saddam\] is using his procurement system to acquire the equipment he needs in order to enrich uranium… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/we-do-know-with-absolute-certainty-that-saddam-is-using-his/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [“She knew with chilling and absolute certainty she was next.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-grace/she-knew-with-chilling-and-absolute-certainty-she-was-next/) [Alexa Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-grace/) > [“There is no such thing as absolute certainty, but there is assurance sufficient for the purposes of human life. —JOHN STUART MILL”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-christian/there-is-no-such-thing-as-absolute-certainty-but-there-is-assurance/) [Brian Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-christian/) > [Faith to me is having absolute certainty that God is in control of my life and that He has my best interests at heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ellis/faith-to-me-is-having-absolute-certainty-that-god-is-in-control-of-my/) [Dan Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ellis/) > [I speak "with absolute certainty" only so far as my own personal belief is concerned. Those who have not the same warrant for their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/i-speak-with-absolute-certainty-only-so-far-as-my-own-personal-belief/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > [I'm sure one of the frustrations of being a Western enthusiast of Japanese food and culture is you're confronted every day with the absolute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/i-m-sure-one-of-the-frustrations-of-being-a-western-enthusiast-of/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [Without absolute certainty, what do we do? We do the best we can. Injustice is happening now; suffering is happening now. We have choices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/without-absolute-certainty-what-do-we-do-we-do-the-best-we-can/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [The hope we have in Christ is an absolute certainty. We can be sure that the place Christ is preparing for us will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/the-hope-we-have-in-christ-is-an-absolute-certainty-we-can-be-sure/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [Absolute certainty is a privilege of uneducated minds and fanatics. - It is, for scientific folk, an unattainable ideal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassius-jackson-keyser/absolute-certainty-is-a-privilege-of-uneducated-minds-and-fanatics-it/) [Cassius Jackson Keyser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassius-jackson-keyser/) > [There are few times when we know with absolute certainty we are going to do something for the last time. Life has a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-hart/there-are-few-times-when-we-know-with-absolute-certainty-we-are-going/) [Megan Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-hart/) > [I never imagined it wouldn't work out for me. I had that absolute certainty in myself that has seen me through, I think, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-never-imagined-it-wouldn-t-work-out-for-me-i-had-that-absolute/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [Only one absolute certainty is possible to man, namely that at any given moment the feeling which he has exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/only-one-absolute-certainty-is-possible-to-man-namely-that-at-any/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) [Browse all 66 Absolute certainty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-certainty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Scientists do not believe in fundamental and absolute certainties. For the scientist, certainty is never an end, but a search; not the ordering of certainty, but its exploration. 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