Believe Quote by James Arthur
“I believe strongly in what John Keats called negative capability: the trait or practice that allows a poet to remain in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact & reason. For Keats, William Shakespeare exemplified negative capability, and I do think it's extraordinary that for all the thousands of pages Shakespeare left behind, we really don't know much about Shakespeare's own personality or opinions.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Power of Negative Capability, 2015
The quote describes negative capability as the ability to sit with uncertainty and doubt without forcing conclusions, exemplified by Shakespeare's mysterious persona.
In simple terms: Being comfortable with uncertainty without seeking immediate answers.
Key Takeaway
Embrace uncertainty and resist the urge to resolve it quickly.
Themes
uncertainty
creativity
humility
Mood
thoughtful
curious
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- writing
- art criticism
- personal reflection
- academic research
Key Concepts
negative capability
poetic imagination
epistemic humility
Questions to Reflect On
- How does uncertainty fuel creative work?
- When is seeking certainty more appropriate?
A Different Perspective
It may lead to indecision or analysis paralysis if overused.
![“I don't know if I call myself a poet or not. I would like to, but I'm not really qualified to make that decision, because I come in on such a back door, that I don't know what a Robert Frost or a [John] Keats or a T.S. Eliot would really think of my stuff.” quote by Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ca0/bob-dylan-168_back-doors_i-don-t-know-if-i-call-myself-a-poet-or_400356.jpg)
