--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not science which leads to unbelief…" description: "\"It is not science which leads to unbelief but rather ignorance. The ignorant man thinks he understands something provided that he sees it every day. Th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/jan-potocki-55875_believe_it-is-not-science-which-leads-to-unbelie_911937.jpg" --- # It is not science which leads to unbelief but rather… ![“It is not science which leads to unbelief but rather ignorance. The ignorant man thinks he understands something provided that he sees it every day. The natural philosopher walks amid enigmas, always striving to understand and always half-understanding. He learns to believe what he does not…” quote by Jan Potocki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/jan-potocki-55875_believe_it-is-not-science-which-leads-to-unbelie_911937.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/jan-potocki-55875_believe_it-is-not-science-which-leads-to-unbelie_911937.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/jan-potocki-55875_believe_it-is-not-science-which-leads-to-unbelie_911937.jpg) > “It is not science which leads to unbelief but rather ignorance. The ignorant man thinks he understands something provided that he sees it every day. The natural philosopher walks amid enigmas, always striving to understand and always half-understanding. He learns to believe what he does not understand, and that is a step on the road to faith.” [Jan Potocki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-potocki/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ignorance fuels disbelief; true understanding requires humility and acceptance of mystery. **In simple terms:** Ignorance leads to doubt; humility embraces mystery. Key Takeaway Accept what you cannot fully grasp. Themes faith humility knowledge ignorance philosophy Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - Academic study - personal belief - spiritual seeking - scientific inquiry Key Concepts Epistemology faith skepticism Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance doubt and belief? - What role does humility play in learning? A Different Perspective Faith may clash with rational evidence, causing tension. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Enigma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enigma/) [Every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-day/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Ignorance Ignorant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance-ignorant-1122026/) [Ignorant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorant/) [Ignorant Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorant-man/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Natural Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-philosopher-1342868/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps/) [Strive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Unbelief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unbelief/) [Unbelief Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unbelief-ignorance-1342867/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/) ## Related quotes > [To the natural philosopher, there is no natural object unimportant or trifling. From the least of Nature's works he may learn the greatest lessons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-herschel/to-the-natural-philosopher-there-is-no-natural-object-unimportant-or/) [John Herschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-herschel/) > [James Watt was equally distinguished as a natural philosopher and chemist; his inventions demonstrate his profound knowledge of those sciences, and that peculiar characteristic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humphry-davy/james-watt-was-equally-distinguished-as-a-natural-philosopher-and/) [Humphry Davy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humphry-davy/) > [Accustomed to trace the operation of general causes, and the exemplification of general laws, in circumstances where the uninformed and unenquiring eye perceives neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-herschel/accustomed-to-trace-the-operation-of-general-causes-and-the/) [John Herschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-herschel/) > [“Predjudice is a sign of ignorance;I am not an ignorant person”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-obmann/predjudice-is-a-sign-of-ignorance-i-am-not-an-ignorant-person/) [Eric Obmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-obmann/) > [“The most arrogant and admired people have a special kind of ignorance that the ignorant cannot see.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/the-most-arrogant-and-admired-people-have-a-special-kind-of-ignorance/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [There is not anything that can so suddenly flood the mind with shame as the conviction of ignorance, yet we are all ignorant of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/there-is-not-anything-that-can-so-suddenly-flood-the-mind-with-shame/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [“The ignorance we’re ignorant of is the ignorance most difficult to remedy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-hager-cohen/the-ignorance-we-re-ignorant-of-is-the-ignorance-most-difficult-to/) [Leah Hager Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-hager-cohen/) > [“Took me a few years to understand what intelligence is; Took me an entire lifetime to understand ignorance. I still haven't found an explanation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/took-me-a-few-years-to-understand-what-intelligence-is-took-me-an/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [“Hate ignorance, not the ignorant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/hate-ignorance-not-the-ignorant/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [...but then the general trouble with ignorance is always that the ignorant person has no idea that that's what they are. You can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-bernieres/but-then-the-general-trouble-with-ignorance-is-always-that-the/) [Louis de Bernieres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/) > [Further, there are things of which the mind understands one part, but remains ignorant of the other; and when man is able to comprehend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/further-there-are-things-of-which-the-mind-understands-one-part-but/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [A wise man makes his own decisions,but an ignorant man follows the public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grantland-rice/a-wise-man-makes-his-own-decisions-but-an-ignorant-man-follows-the/) [Grantland Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grantland-rice/) > [The ignorant man is an ox. He grows in size, not in wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/the-ignorant-man-is-an-ox-he-grows-in-size-not-in-wisdom/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [The life of an ignorant man is as useless as the tail of a dog which neither covers its rear end, nor protects it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/the-life-of-an-ignorant-man-is-as-useless-as-the-tail-of-a-dog-which/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“You can know a thing to death and be for all purposes completely ignorant of it. A man can know his father, or his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/you-can-know-a-thing-to-death-and-be-for-all-purposes-completely/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) ## More by Jan Potocki > [“Nature is infinitely rich and diverse in her ways. She can be seen to break her most unchanging laws. She has made self-interest the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-potocki/nature-is-infinitely-rich-and-diverse-in-her-ways-she-can-be-seen-to/) [Jan Potocki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-potocki/) > [I study theology in the works of creation and find in it new reasons for adoring the creator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-potocki/i-study-theology-in-the-works-of-creation-and-find-in-it-new-reasons/) [Jan Potocki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-potocki/) > [Words strike the air and the mind, they act on the senses and on the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-potocki/words-strike-the-air-and-the-mind-they-act-on-the-senses-and-on-the/) [Jan Potocki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-potocki/) > [Thought assists memory in enabling it to order the material it has assembled. So that in a systematically ordered memory every idea is individually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-potocki/thought-assists-memory-in-enabling-it-to-order-the-material-it-has/) [Jan Potocki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-potocki/) [Explore all 5 Jan Potocki quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-potocki/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is not science which leads to unbelief but rather ignorance. The ignorant man thinks he understands something provided that he sees it every day. The natural philosopher walks amid enigmas, always striving to understand and always half-understanding. He learns to believe what he does not understand, and that is a step on the road to faith.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jan Potocki" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-potocki/it-is-not-science-which-leads-to-unbelief-but-rather-ignorance-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-potocki/it-is-not-science-which-leads-to-unbelief-but-rather-ignorance-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/jan-potocki-55875_believe_it-is-not-science-which-leads-to-unbelie_911937.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/jan-potocki-55875_believe_it-is-not-science-which-leads-to-unbelie_911937.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/jan-potocki-55875_believe_it-is-not-science-which-leads-to-unbelie_911937.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is not science which leads to unbelief but rather ignorance. The ignorant man thinks he understands…” — Jan Potocki", "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": "Jan Potocki", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-potocki/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is not science which leads...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-potocki/it-is-not-science-which-leads-to-unbelief-but-rather-ignorance-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-potocki/it-is-not-science-which-leads-to-unbelief-but-rather-ignorance-the/#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 } } ] } ```