--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are doubts, sir, which, if man have…" description: "\"There are doubts, sir, which, if man have them, it is not man that can solve them.\" — Herman Melville" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96e/herman-melville-162_doubt_there-are-doubts-sir-which-if-man-have-t_2678199.jpg" --- # There are doubts, sir, which, if man have them, it is not… ![“There are doubts, sir, which, if man have them, it is not man that can solve them.” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96e/herman-melville-162_doubt_there-are-doubts-sir-which-if-man-have-t_2678199.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96e/herman-melville-162_doubt_there-are-doubts-sir-which-if-man-have-t_2678199.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96e/herman-melville-162_doubt_there-are-doubts-sir-which-if-man-have-t_2678199.jpg) > “There are doubts, sir, which, if man have them, it is not man that can solve them.” [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Doubt is a sign of humanity; it reveals limits of rational problem‑solving. **In simple terms:** Doubt shows we aren’t all‑knowing. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty. Themes doubt humanity knowledge Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - scientific research - ethical decisions - personal growth Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What doubts am I avoiding? - How can I use doubt constructively? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can be dangerous too. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Doubts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubts/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [ \[If\] man creates the problem, surely man can solve it. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/if-man-creates-the-problem-surely-man-can-solve-it/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [The poet is the man made to solve the riddle of the universe who brings the whole soul of man into activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-poet-is-the-man-made-to-solve-the-riddle-of-the-universe-who/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [“I don't think any man could solve the world's problems overnight, myself included. You'd better give me at least two days.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-don-t-think-any-man-could-solve-the-world-s-problems-overnight/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Don't search for a man that will solve all your problems, he won't. Find one that won't let you face them alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-search-for-a-man-that-will-solve-all-your-problems-he-won-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Doesn't need a man to solve all his problems, just one that doesn't become a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/doesn-t-need-a-man-to-solve-all-his-problems-just-one-that-doesn-t/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“There is no problem the mind of man can set that the mind of man cannot solve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/there-is-no-problem-the-mind-of-man-can-set-that-the-mind-of-man/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Doesn't need a man to solve all her problems, just one that doesn't become a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moores/doesn-t-need-a-man-to-solve-all-her-problems-just-one-that-doesn-t/) [Sarah Moores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moores/) > [You are your own teacher. Looking for teachers can’t solve your own doubts. Investigate yourself to find the truth - inside, not outside. Knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/you-are-your-own-teacher-looking-for-teachers-can-t-solve-your-own/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Action will remove the doubts that theory cannot solve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tehyi-hsieh/action-will-remove-the-doubts-that-theory-cannot-solve/) [Tehyi Hsieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tehyi-hsieh/) > [It is better not to become acquainted with men about whom you have formerly had doubts. No matter what you do, they will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/it-is-better-not-to-become-acquainted-with-men-about-whom-you-have/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [“Self-doubts are like weeds; if you don't deal with them right away, they multiply. And before you know it, your garden looks like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-chase/self-doubts-are-like-weeds-if-you-don-t-deal-with-them-right-away/) [Emma Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-chase/) > [Even when you have doubts, take that step. Take chances. Mistakes are never a failure - they can be turned into wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-cora/even-when-you-have-doubts-take-that-step-take-chances-mistakes-are/) [Cat Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-cora/) > [“An atheist is someone who is disappointed in his search of god. He is a man who strongly needed god but couldn't find him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/an-atheist-is-someone-who-is-disappointed-in-his-search-of-god-he-is/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [You see all of us go through the same doubts. We are afraid of being mad; unfortunately for us, of course, all of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/you-see-all-of-us-go-through-the-same-doubts-we-are-afraid-of-being/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [“If one does not know how to read the account (karmic) book, then he will start to have doubts, and doubts lead to unhappiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/if-one-does-not-know-how-to-read-the-account-karmic-book-then-he-will/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) ## More by Herman Melville > [“and man, though idiotic, and knowing not what he does, yet full of the sweet things of love and gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/and-man-though-idiotic-and-knowing-not-what-he-does-yet-full-of-the/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“But were the coming narrative to reveal in any instance, the complete abasement of poor Starbuck's fortitude, scarce might I have the heart to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/but-were-the-coming-narrative-to-reveal-in-any-instance-the-complete/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“(On Ralph Waldo Emerson)I love all men who dive. Any fish can swim near the surface, but it takes a great whale to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/on-ralph-waldo-emerson-i-love-all-men-who-dive-any-fish-can-swim-near/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“So seemed it to me, as I stood at her helm, and for long hours silently guided the way of this fire-ship on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/so-seemed-it-to-me-as-i-stood-at-her-helm-and-for-long-hours-silently/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“the only real owner of anything is its commander;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-only-real-owner-of-anything-is-its-commander/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Consider the subtleness of the sea; how its most dreaded creatures glide under water, unapparent for the most part, and treacherously hidden beneath the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/consider-the-subtleness-of-the-sea-how-its-most-dreaded-creatures/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Is it that by its indefiniteness it shadows forth the heartless voids and immensities of the universe, and thus stabs us from behind with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/is-it-that-by-its-indefiniteness-it-shadows-forth-the-heartless-voids/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Now, as I before hinted, I have no objection to any person's religion, be it what it may, so long as that person does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/now-as-i-before-hinted-i-have-no-objection-to-any-person-s-religion/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence in the children of any other land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/let-america-first-praise-mediocrity-even-in-her-children-before-she/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Only the man who says no is free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/only-the-man-who-says-no-is-free/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Beneath those stars is a universe of gliding monsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/beneath-those-stars-is-a-universe-of-gliding-monsters/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Yet this is life. For hardly have we mortals by long toilings extracted from this world's vast bulk its small but valuable sperm; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/yet-this-is-life-for-hardly-have-we-mortals-by-long-toilings/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [I never fancied broiling fowls; - though once broiled, judiciously buttered, and judgmatically salted and peppered, there is no one who will speak more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/i-never-fancied-broiling-fowls-though-once-broiled-judiciously/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [War should be carried on like a monsoon; one changeless determination of every particle towards the one unalterable aim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/war-should-be-carried-on-like-a-monsoon-one-changeless-determination/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Genius is full of trash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/genius-is-full-of-trash/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) [Explore all 1,009 Herman Melville quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## 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 > [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 > [“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": "There are doubts, sir, which, if man have them, it is not man that can solve them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herman Melville" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/there-are-doubts-sir-which-if-man-have-them-it-is-not-man-that-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doubt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/there-are-doubts-sir-which-if-man-have-them-it-is-not-man-that-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96e/herman-melville-162_doubt_there-are-doubts-sir-which-if-man-have-t_2678199.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96e/herman-melville-162_doubt_there-are-doubts-sir-which-if-man-have-t_2678199.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96e/herman-melville-162_doubt_there-are-doubts-sir-which-if-man-have-t_2678199.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are doubts, sir, which, if man have them, it is not man that can solve them.” — Herman Melville", "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": "Herman Melville", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There are doubts, sir, which, if...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/there-are-doubts-sir-which-if-man-have-them-it-is-not-man-that-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/there-are-doubts-sir-which-if-man-have-them-it-is-not-man-that-can/#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 } } ] } ```