--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everything should be doubted and tested…" description: "\"“Everything should be doubted and tested before it is held to be true.”\" — Charles Nicholl" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/charles-nicholl-62380_doubt_everything-should-be-doubted-and-tested_2108836.jpg" --- # Everything should be doubted and tested before it is held… ![“Everything should be doubted and tested before it is held to be true.” quote by Charles Nicholl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/charles-nicholl-62380_doubt_everything-should-be-doubted-and-tested_2108836.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/charles-nicholl-62380_doubt_everything-should-be-doubted-and-tested_2108836.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/charles-nicholl-62380_doubt_everything-should-be-doubted-and-tested_2108836.jpg) > ““Everything should be doubted and tested before it is held to be true.”” [Charles Nicholl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-nicholl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. All claims should be rigorously questioned and verified before acceptance as truth. **In simple terms:** Doubt and test everything before believing it. Key Takeaway Adopt a habit of critical inquiry. Themes skepticism verification knowledge Mood cautious inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - research design - education curricula - policy evaluation Key Concepts epistemology scientific method critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to accept provisional truth? - How do we balance skepticism with trust? A Different Perspective Excessive doubt can stall progress and decision‑making. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Doubted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubted/) [Doubted Tested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubted-tested-4247661/) [Held True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/held-true-4247663/) [Tested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tested/) [Tested Held](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tested-held-4247662/) ## Related quotes > [“But nothing could be held true for the rest of one's life, every coveted thing in the end was maya, illusion, a myth, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indu-sundaresan/but-nothing-could-be-held-true-for-the-rest-of-one-s-life-every/) [Indu Sundaresan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indu-sundaresan/) > [Love doesn't need to be doubted, tested or proven... it's meant to be shown, shared, and nurtured. Find your strength in love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah/love-doesn-t-need-to-be-doubted-tested-or-proven-it-s-meant-to-be/) [Sarah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah/) > [He whose faith never doubted, may justly doubt of his faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-boyle/he-whose-faith-never-doubted-may-justly-doubt-of-his-faith/) [Robert Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-boyle/) > [The real spiritual journey is work. You can make a naïve assertion that you trust in Jesus, but until it is tested a good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/the-real-spiritual-journey-is-work-you-can-make-a-na-ve-assertion/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [During the war, a battle was fought here, not only for the creation of a new Yugoslavia, but also a battle for Bosnia and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josip-broz-tito/during-the-war-a-battle-was-fought-here-not-only-for-the-creation-of/) [Josip Broz Tito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josip-broz-tito/) > [My whole life, people have doubted me. My mom did. People told me in high school I'm too short and not fast enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-butler/my-whole-life-people-have-doubted-me-my-mom-did-people-told-me-in/) [Jimmy Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-butler/) > [“doubted the condo portion of the building had any black or Dominican owners.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bettye-griffin/doubted-the-condo-portion-of-the-building-had-any-black-or-dominican/) [Bettye Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bettye-griffin/) > [Had thought ever doubted my ability upon once, be it not so, presently, at thine own hubris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/had-thought-ever-doubted-my-ability-upon-once-be-it-not-so-presently/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Have you doubted your progress, regretted your choices, put yourself down? Remember that you are doing just fine. Remind yourself right now that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/have-you-doubted-your-progress-regretted-your-choices-put-yourself/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [Her underwear, her jeans, the comforter, my corduroys and my boxers between us, I thought. Five layers, and yet I felt it, the nervous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/her-underwear-her-jeans-the-comforter-my-corduroys-and-my-boxers/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Redtail was a brave warrior. His loyalty to ThunderClan could never be doubted. I always relied on his judgment, for it bore witness to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hunter/redtail-was-a-brave-warrior-his-loyalty-to-thunderclan-could-never-be/) [Erin Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hunter/) > [I was given the gifts of the artist, and the trouble that goes with them: So I have that blessing, and there was never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-berliawsky-nevelson/i-was-given-the-gifts-of-the-artist-and-the-trouble-that-goes-with/) [Louise Berliawsky Nevelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-berliawsky-nevelson/) > [The purposes of the United States should not be doubted. The Security Council resolutions will be enforced - the just demands of peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-purposes-of-the-united-states-should-not-be-doubted-the-security/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [“For the longest time, Cinderella had doubted Friedrich was ever serious about her. Now, as she saw the way his fingers twitched with nervousness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/for-the-longest-time-cinderella-had-doubted-friedrich-was-ever/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [Nor would anybody suspect. If was one thing all people took for granted, was conviction that if you feed honest figures into a computer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/nor-would-anybody-suspect-if-was-one-thing-all-people-took-for/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) ## More by Charles Nicholl > [“When in doubt, move, even if it's in the wrong direction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-nicholl/when-in-doubt-move-even-if-it-s-in-the-wrong-direction/) [Charles Nicholl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-nicholl/) > [“The cage is empty; the mind has flown.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-nicholl/the-cage-is-empty-the-mind-has-flown/) [Charles Nicholl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-nicholl/) > [“This is the way history happens: it is measured out in days rather than epochs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-nicholl/this-is-the-way-history-happens-it-is-measured-out-in-days-rather/) [Charles Nicholl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-nicholl/) > [“It is true that biographical readings of the plays are dangerous, unregulated, prone to sentimentalization. It is absurd to cherry-pick passages of poetry written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-nicholl/it-is-true-that-biographical-readings-of-the-plays-are-dangerous/) [Charles Nicholl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-nicholl/) [Explore all 5 Charles Nicholl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-nicholl/) ## More Doubt quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. The moment one begins to doubt the knowledge that, 'I am Chandubhai,' misery arises. Once one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-is-doubt-shanka-there-is-misery-the-moment-one-begins-to/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Vision motivates, sustains and dispels doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-young/vision-motivates-sustains-and-dispels-doubt/) [Thomas Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-young/) > [One may not doubt that, somehow Good Shall come of Water and of Mud; And sure, the reverent eye must see A purpose in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-brooke/one-may-not-doubt-that-somehow-good-shall-come-of-water-and-of-mud/) [Rupert Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-brooke/) > [Let smiles overshadow sadness. Let faith make you believe. Let confidence wash away doubts. Let love complete your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/let-smiles-overshadow-sadness-let-faith-make-you-believe-let/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [When in doubt, suggest that a subcommittee be appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapman/when-in-doubt-suggest-that-a-subcommittee-be-appointed/) [Harry Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-chapman/) > [“Those who contemplate never escape the doubt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/those-who-contemplate-never-escape-the-doubt/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) [Browse all 9,582 Doubt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Everything should be doubted and tested before it is held to be true.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Nicholl" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-nicholl/everything-should-be-doubted-and-tested-before-it-is-held-to-be-true/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doubt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-nicholl/everything-should-be-doubted-and-tested-before-it-is-held-to-be-true/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/charles-nicholl-62380_doubt_everything-should-be-doubted-and-tested_2108836.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/charles-nicholl-62380_doubt_everything-should-be-doubted-and-tested_2108836.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/charles-nicholl-62380_doubt_everything-should-be-doubted-and-tested_2108836.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Everything should be doubted and tested before it is held to be true.” — Charles Nicholl", "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 Nicholl", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-nicholl/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Everything should be doubted and tested...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-nicholl/everything-should-be-doubted-and-tested-before-it-is-held-to-be-true/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-nicholl/everything-should-be-doubted-and-tested-before-it-is-held-to-be-true/#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 } } ] } ```