Affair Quote by Bertrand Russell
“While the dogmatist is harmful, the sceptic is useless ...; one is certain of knowing, the other of not knowing. What philosophy should dissipate is certainty, whether of knowledge or of ignorance. Knowledge is not so precise a concept as is commonly thought. Instead of saying 'I know this', we ought to say 'I more or less know something more or less like this'. ... Knowledge in practical affairs has not the certainty or the precision of arithmetic.”
About This Quote
The passage argues that both dogmatism and extreme scepticism are flawed; it advocates a modest, probabilistic view of knowledge rather than absolute certainty.
In simple terms: Avoid extremes; accept knowledge as provisional and approximate.
Key Takeaway
Embrace humility in belief.
Themes
epistemology
moderation
uncertainty
Mood
analytical
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- decision making
- learning
- teaching
- research
Key Concepts
probabilistic reasoning
critical thinking
philosophy of science
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to “know” something?
- How can we balance confidence and doubt?
A Different Perspective
Absolute certainty is unattainable.
![“Knowledge does away with darkness, [anxiety], and doubt; for these cannot exist where knowledge is.” quote by Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ca1/dieter-f-uchtdorf-762_anxiety_knowledge-does-away-with-darkness-anxiet_885527.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)
