---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only certainty in life is that it is…"
description: "\"“The only certainty in life is that it is uncertain.”\" — Charles F. Glassman"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/charles-f-glassman-3880_certainty_the-only-certainty-in-life-is-that-it-is_3178033.jpg"
---

#  The only certainty in life is that it is uncertain.

![“The only certainty in life is that it is uncertain.” quote by Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/charles-f-glassman-3880_certainty_the-only-certainty-in-life-is-that-it-is_3178033.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/charles-f-glassman-3880_certainty_the-only-certainty-in-life-is-that-it-is_3178033.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/charles-f-glassman-3880_certainty_the-only-certainty-in-life-is-that-it-is_3178033.jpg)

> ““The only certainty in life is that it is uncertain.””

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Life is inherently unpredictable, and certainty is an illusion.

**In simple terms:** Life is unpredictable.

Key Takeaway

Embrace uncertainty.

Themes

uncertainty philosophy resilience

Mood

reflective calm

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- personal decisions
- career planning
- health crises
- financial investments

Key Concepts

existentialism probability acceptance

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you cope with unknown outcomes?
- What risks can you take despite uncertainty?

A Different Perspective

Uncertainty can cause anxiety and paralysis.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Comfort zone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort-zone/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Fear of the future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-of-the-future/) [Fearful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fearful/) [Inspirational quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-quotes/) [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [Law of attraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-of-attraction/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Uncertain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-uncertain/) [Spiritual quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-quotes/) [Taking risks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-risks/) [Unknown quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unknown-quotes/) [Wisdom quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom-quotes/)

## Related quotes

> [“It is how we nurture the good and deal with the bad that ultimately shapes our destiny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/it-is-how-we-nurture-the-good-and-deal-with-the-bad-that-ultimately/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“I will not allow my mistakes of the past compromise my hope for the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/i-will-not-allow-my-mistakes-of-the-past-compromise-my-hope-for-the/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“Usually the opposite of what we fear is our greatest fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/usually-the-opposite-of-what-we-fear-is-our-greatest-fear/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“The danger of venturing into uncharted waters is not nearly as dangerous as staying on shore, waiting for your boat to come in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/the-danger-of-venturing-into-uncharted-waters-is-not-nearly-as/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“A healthy attitude is contagious; let others catch it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/a-healthy-attitude-is-contagious-let-others-catch-it/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“The way I see it, our natural human instinct is to fight or flee that which we perceive to be dangerous. Although this mechanism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/the-way-i-see-it-our-natural-human-instinct-is-to-fight-or-flee-that/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“Before I can become an expert on anything, I must first become an expert on me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/before-i-can-become-an-expert-on-anything-i-must-first-become-an/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“Even the smallest changes in our daily routine can create incredible ripple effects that expand our vision of what is possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/even-the-smallest-changes-in-our-daily-routine-can-create-incredible/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“The system wants to own your day until the day you die. The opposite of certainty in life is called freedom. If you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/the-system-wants-to-own-your-day-until-the-day-you-die-the-opposite/)

[Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/)

> [Unfamiliarity lends weight to misfortune, and there was never a man whose grief was not heightened by surprise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/unfamiliarity-lends-weight-to-misfortune-and-there-was-never-a-man/)

[Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

> [My hope is to gain a fresh hearing for Jesus, especially among those who believe they already understand him. In his case, quite frankly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/my-hope-is-to-gain-a-fresh-hearing-for-jesus-especially-among-those/)

[Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/)

> [“It is strange that what seems at first alien becomes second nature in the blink of an eye.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/it-is-strange-that-what-seems-at-first-alien-becomes-second-nature-in/)

[Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/)

> [“Living in this world, the person we are most unfamiliar with is probably ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yixing-zhang/living-in-this-world-the-person-we-are-most-unfamiliar-with-is/)

[Yixing Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yixing-zhang/)

> [“It seemed to me that these months of watching and listening, second-guessing words and phrases, seeking so much that was new, had somehow changed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/it-seemed-to-me-that-these-months-of-watching-and-listening-second/)

[Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/)

> [To be alone in the air at night is to be very much alone indeed. . . cut off from everything and everyone .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-gower/to-be-alone-in-the-air-at-night-is-to-be-very-much-alone-indeed-cut/)

Pauline Gower

## More by Charles F. Glassman

> [“Attraction is so much more than a pretty face. Its face is passion, attitude, kindness, &amp; faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/attraction-is-so-much-more-than-a-pretty-face-its-face-is-passion/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“The fear of being alone is a great obstacle to attracting the relationship that is right for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/the-fear-of-being-alone-is-a-great-obstacle-to-attracting-the/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“Usually when someone is angry we hear their angry words. Instead, try hearing the unspoken, “I am scared, I am frustrated, I am insecure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/usually-when-someone-is-angry-we-hear-their-angry-words-instead-try/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“Politics and self-interest should never stand in the way of finding the truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/politics-and-self-interest-should-never-stand-in-the-way-of-finding/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“Staring at the light of another blinds the view of our own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/staring-at-the-light-of-another-blinds-the-view-of-our-own/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“When we procrastinate, we also put a hold on happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/when-we-procrastinate-we-also-put-a-hold-on-happiness/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“When you trust your inner guidance and begin moving in the direction of your dreams (aligned with your individual gifts) you will be cloaked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/when-you-trust-your-inner-guidance-and-begin-moving-in-the-direction/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“Beyond the veil of suffering is a light that shines bright in every one of us. One does not need glasses to see that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/beyond-the-veil-of-suffering-is-a-light-that-shines-bright-in-every/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“A little belief, a little faith, a little hope is sometimes all we need, to see the light.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/a-little-belief-a-little-faith-a-little-hope-is-sometimes-all-we-need/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“Accept the good, however big or small, with no strings attached.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/accept-the-good-however-big-or-small-with-no-strings-attached/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“Patience is the glue that binds hard work and faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/patience-is-the-glue-that-binds-hard-work-and-faith/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“I will always find a way and a way will always find me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/i-will-always-find-a-way-and-a-way-will-always-find-me/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“Thoughts can propel our lives in many different directions. However, it is our choice which ones to believe. And those are the ones capable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/thoughts-can-propel-our-lives-in-many-different-directions-however-it/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“Faith is blind, if we don’t open our eyes to see the blessings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/faith-is-blind-if-we-don-t-open-our-eyes-to-see-the-blessings/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“Perseverance is the enemy of doubt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/perseverance-is-the-enemy-of-doubt/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

[Explore all 120 Charles F. Glassman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

## More Certainty quotes

> [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/)

[Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/)

> [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/)

> [The past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-past-and-the-future-become-unimportant-there-is-only-that-moment/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [In the mental disturbance and effort of writing, what sustains you is the certainty that on every page there is something left unsaid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/in-the-mental-disturbance-and-effort-of-writing-what-sustains-you-is/)

[Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/)

> [Of course I doubt. I do not practice a certainty. I practice a faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/of-course-i-doubt-i-do-not-practice-a-certainty-i-practice-a-faith/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

> [The world is a wonderfully weird place, consensual reality is significantly flawed, no institution can be trusted, certainty is a mirage, security a delusion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-world-is-a-wonderfully-weird-place-consensual-reality-is/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [As a businessman, I know that businesses need certainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-foster/as-a-businessman-i-know-that-businesses-need-certainty/)

[Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/)

> [It is suggested that in domestic violence at least the presence or absence of a firearm, or of any other type of weapon, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-greenwood/it-is-suggested-that-in-domestic-violence-at-least-the-presence-or/)

[Colin Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-greenwood/)

> [Every single person who is a member of our party deserves to have certainty. They deserve to know that my attention and focus is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/every-single-person-who-is-a-member-of-our-party-deserves-to-have/)

[Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/)

> [The significance and volume of repairs that are needed across the country demand that we give state and local governments the long-term certainty they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-graves/the-significance-and-volume-of-repairs-that-are-needed-across-the/)

[Sam Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-graves/)

> [“Death is the one great certainty in life. That’s what my dad used to say. Nothing else is certain. Not love. Not happiness. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-gray/death-is-the-one-great-certainty-in-life-that-s-what-my-dad-used-to/)

[Mila Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-gray/)

> [ \[I\]f in other sciences we should arrive at certainty without doubt and truth without error, it behooves us to place the foundations of knowledge… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/i-f-in-other-sciences-we-should-arrive-at-certainty-without-doubt-and/)

[Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/)

> [Do not lose hope; St. Joseph also experienced moments of difficulty, but he never lost faith and was able to overcome them, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/do-not-lose-hope-st-joseph-also-experienced-moments-of-difficulty-but/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/)

[Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/)

> [Finding someone that trusted my vision helped me find certainty in who I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/finding-someone-that-trusted-my-vision-helped-me-find-certainty-in/)

[Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/)

[Browse all 1,776 Certainty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The only certainty in life is that it is uncertain.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Charles F. Glassman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/the-only-certainty-in-life-is-that-it-is-uncertain/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Certainty"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/the-only-certainty-in-life-is-that-it-is-uncertain/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/charles-f-glassman-3880_certainty_the-only-certainty-in-life-is-that-it-is_3178033.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/charles-f-glassman-3880_certainty_the-only-certainty-in-life-is-that-it-is_3178033.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/charles-f-glassman-3880_certainty_the-only-certainty-in-life-is-that-it-is_3178033.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The only certainty in life is that it is uncertain.” — Charles F. Glassman",
                "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": "Charles F. Glassman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The only certainty in life is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/the-only-certainty-in-life-is-that-it-is-uncertain/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/the-only-certainty-in-life-is-that-it-is-uncertain/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
