--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You prove but too clearly that seeking to…" description: "\"You prove but too clearly that seeking to know Is too frequently learning to doubt.\" — John Denham" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ce/john-denham-27658_doubt_you-prove-but-too-clearly-that-seeking-t_2645640.jpg" --- # You prove but too clearly that seeking to know Is too… ![“You prove but too clearly that seeking to know Is too frequently learning to doubt.” quote by John Denham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ce/john-denham-27658_doubt_you-prove-but-too-clearly-that-seeking-t_2645640.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ce/john-denham-27658_doubt_you-prove-but-too-clearly-that-seeking-t_2645640.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ce/john-denham-27658_doubt_you-prove-but-too-clearly-that-seeking-t_2645640.jpg) > “You prove but too clearly that seeking to know Is too frequently learning to doubt.” [John Denham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeking knowledge often leads to doubt, questioning certainty. **In simple terms:** Learning creates uncertainty. Key Takeaway Balance curiosity with confidence. Themes knowledge doubt learning Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inquisitive When to use this quote - academic research - personal growth - decision making - scientific inquiry Key Concepts epistemology critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - When does doubt become harmful? - How can one trust intuition? A Different Perspective Excessive doubt can paralyze action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clearly Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clearly-seeking-2306351/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Doubted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubted/) [Know Frequently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-frequently-2306350/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Learning Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning-doubt-2306349/) [Prove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prove/) [Prove Clearly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prove-clearly-2306348/) [Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeking/) ## Related quotes > [Seeking to know is too often learning to doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoinette-du-ligier-de-la-garde-deshoulieres/seeking-to-know-is-too-often-learning-to-doubt/) [Antoinette du Ligier de la Garde Deshoulieres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoinette-du-ligier-de-la-garde-deshoulieres/) > [The state of Israel must, from time to time, prove clearly that it is strong, and able and willing to use force, in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moshe-sharett/the-state-of-israel-must-from-time-to-time-prove-clearly-that-it-is/) [Moshe Sharett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moshe-sharett/) > [“People know what they do; they frequently know why they do what they do; but what they don’t know is what what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/people-know-what-they-do-they-frequently-know-why-they-do-what-they/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [People know what they do; frequently they know why they do what they do; but what they don't know is what what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/people-know-what-they-do-frequently-they-know-why-they-do-what-they/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [Uncertain ways unsafest are, and doubt a greater mischief than despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denham/uncertain-ways-unsafest-are-and-doubt-a-greater-mischief-than-despair/) [John Denham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denham/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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 John Denham > [We are never like angels till our passion dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denham/we-are-never-like-angels-till-our-passion-dies/) [John Denham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denham/) > [Poetry is of so subtle a spirit, that in the pouring out of one language into another it will evaporate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denham/poetry-is-of-so-subtle-a-spirit-that-in-the-pouring-out-of-one/) [John Denham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denham/) > [Learn to live well, that thou may'st die so too; To live and die is all we have to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denham/learn-to-live-well-that-thou-may-st-die-so-too-to-live-and-die-is-all/) [John Denham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denham/) > [Tis the most certain sign, the world's accurst That the best things corrupted, are the worst; 'Twas the corrupted Light of knowledge, hurl'd Sin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denham/tis-the-most-certain-sign-the-world-s-accurst-that-the-best-things/) [John Denham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denham/) > [Uncertain ways unsafest are, and doubt a greater mischief than despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denham/uncertain-ways-unsafest-are-and-doubt-a-greater-mischief-than-despair/) [John Denham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denham/) > [“Books should to one of these four ends conduce, For wisdom, piety, delight, or use.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denham/books-should-to-one-of-these-four-ends-conduce-for-wisdom-piety/) [John Denham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denham/) > [The man who first abused his fellows with swear-words instead of bashing their brains out with a club should be counted among those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denham/the-man-who-first-abused-his-fellows-with-swear-words-instead-of/) [John Denham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denham/) > [It is no exaggeration to say that Israeli policy in the occupied territories is not simply a matter of foreign policy - it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denham/it-is-no-exaggeration-to-say-that-israeli-policy-in-the-occupied/) [John Denham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denham/) > [But whither am I strayed? I need not raise Trophies to thee from other men's dispraise; Nor is thy fame on lesser ruins built;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denham/but-whither-am-i-strayed-i-need-not-raise-trophies-to-thee-from-other/) [John Denham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denham/) > [Actions of the last age are like almanacs of the last year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denham/actions-of-the-last-age-are-like-almanacs-of-the-last-year/) [John Denham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denham/) > [Who fears not to do ill fears the name, And free from conscience, is a slave to fame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denham/who-fears-not-to-do-ill-fears-the-name-and-free-from-conscience-is-a/) [John Denham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denham/) > [Such is our pride, our folly, or our fate, That few, but such as cannot write, translate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denham/such-is-our-pride-our-folly-or-our-fate-that-few-but-such-as-cannot/) [John Denham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denham/) > [Youth, what man's age is like to be, doth show; We may our ends by our beginnings know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denham/youth-what-man-s-age-is-like-to-be-doth-show-we-may-our-ends-by-our/) [John Denham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denham/) > [Whatsoever is worthy of their love is worth their anger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denham/whatsoever-is-worthy-of-their-love-is-worth-their-anger/) [John Denham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denham/) > [Search not to find things too deeply hid; Nor try to know things whose knowledge is forbid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denham/search-not-to-find-things-too-deeply-hid-nor-try-to-know-things-whose/) [John Denham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denham/) [Explore all 20 John Denham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denham/) ## 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": "You prove but too clearly that seeking to know Is too frequently learning to doubt.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Denham" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denham/you-prove-but-too-clearly-that-seeking-to-know-is-too-frequently/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doubt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denham/you-prove-but-too-clearly-that-seeking-to-know-is-too-frequently/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ce/john-denham-27658_doubt_you-prove-but-too-clearly-that-seeking-t_2645640.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ce/john-denham-27658_doubt_you-prove-but-too-clearly-that-seeking-t_2645640.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ce/john-denham-27658_doubt_you-prove-but-too-clearly-that-seeking-t_2645640.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You prove but too clearly that seeking to know Is too frequently learning to doubt.” — John Denham", "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": "John Denham", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denham/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You prove but too clearly that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denham/you-prove-but-too-clearly-that-seeking-to-know-is-too-frequently/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denham/you-prove-but-too-clearly-that-seeking-to-know-is-too-frequently/#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 } } ] } ```