--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that certainty is a closed door…" description: "\"I think that certainty is a closed door, It's the end of the conversation. Doubt is an open door.\" — John Patrick Shanley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/john-patrick-shanley-13888_certainty_i-think-that-certainty-is-a-closed-door_670988.jpg" --- # I think that certainty is a closed door, It's the end of… ![“I think that certainty is a closed door, It's the end of the conversation. Doubt is an open door.” quote by John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/john-patrick-shanley-13888_certainty_i-think-that-certainty-is-a-closed-door_670988.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/john-patrick-shanley-13888_certainty_i-think-that-certainty-is-a-closed-door_670988.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/john-patrick-shanley-13888_certainty_i-think-that-certainty-is-a-closed-door_670988.jpg) > “I think that certainty is a closed door, It's the end of the conversation. Doubt is an open door.” [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Certainty shuts down dialogue, while doubt invites ongoing inquiry and growth. **In simple terms:** Being sure stops conversation; questioning keeps it open. Key Takeaway Embrace doubt to keep learning. Themes dialogue growth uncertainty open-mindedness Mood thoughtful curious Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - team meetings - scientific research - personal decision making - creative brainstorming Key Concepts philosophy psychology communication Questions to Reflect On - How does certainty limit your perspective? - When can doubt become a barrier? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on doubt can lead to indecision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Open Door](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-door/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [You have to come to your closed doors before you get to your open doors... What if you knew you had to go through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-have-to-come-to-your-closed-doors-before-you-get-to-your-open/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [“STOP putting yourself down because the truth of the matter is...YES you can. If you can think it, you certainty can do it! Now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/stop-putting-yourself-down-because-the-truth-of-the-matter-is-yes-you/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [If Im not good enough to be taken out in public. Im too good for you behind closed doors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-im-not-good-enough-to-be-taken-out-in-public-im-too-good-for-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes we feel all doors are closed in our life. But, all the closed doors may not be locked, they may be waiting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-we-feel-all-doors-are-closed-in-our-life-but-all-the-closed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If anything should take place behind closed doors, it was cruelty and betrayal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-st-aubyn/if-anything-should-take-place-behind-closed-doors-it-was-cruelty-and/) [Edward St. Aubyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-st-aubyn/) > [I always wanted a father. Any kind. A strict one, a funny one, one who bought me pink dresses, one who wished I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-blundell/i-always-wanted-a-father-any-kind-a-strict-one-a-funny-one-one-who/) [Judy Blundell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-blundell/) > [Another train will come. Why rush? Why worry? Why go crazy? Another train will come. And sure enough, another train going my way was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esmeralda-santiago/another-train-will-come-why-rush-why-worry-why-go-crazy-another-train/) [Esmeralda Santiago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esmeralda-santiago/) > [What you don't know is when she get home and get behind closed doors, man she hit the floor and what you can't see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mary/what-you-don-t-know-is-when-she-get-home-and-get-behind-closed-doors/) [Mary Mary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mary/) > [That is the most important thing to me, what happens behind the closed doors in the studio and makes me an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/that-is-the-most-important-thing-to-me-what-happens-behind-the-closed/) [Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/) > [It is one of life's laws that as soon as one door closes another opens. But the tragedy is we look at the closed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/it-is-one-of-life-s-laws-that-as-soon-as-one-door-closes-another/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [The Metropolitan Museum of Art some time ago held a display of contemporary art at which $52,000 was awarded to American sculptors, painters, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-keller/the-metropolitan-museum-of-art-some-time-ago-held-a-display-of/) [James Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-keller/) > [The people want government that works for them at every level. They want good government that begins at their doorstep in the barangay, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-macapagal-arroyo/the-people-want-government-that-works-for-them-at-every-level-they/) [Gloria Macapagal Arroyo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-macapagal-arroyo/) > [Others like City Hall the old way, when they could make deals behind closed doors with your tax money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-miller/others-like-city-hall-the-old-way-when-they-could-make-deals-behind/) [Laura Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-miller/) > [“It’s amazing how people can change behind closed doors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/it-s-amazing-how-people-can-change-behind-closed-doors/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [Nothing attracts me like a closed door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-bourke-white/nothing-attracts-me-like-a-closed-door/) [Margaret Bourke-White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-bourke-white/) ## More by John Patrick Shanley > [Women consume, and they must be directed what to consume, or they may identify you as lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/women-consume-and-they-must-be-directed-what-to-consume-or-they-may/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I did 'Doubt' as a film, a play and an opera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-did-doubt-as-a-film-a-play-and-an-opera/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [“i don't know what your situation is but i wanted you to know what mine is not just to explain some rude behavior, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-don-t-know-what-your-situation-is-but-i-wanted-you-to-know-what/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I'd like to thank everybody who ever punched or kissed me in my life and everybody who I ever punched or kissed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-d-like-to-thank-everybody-who-ever-punched-or-kissed-me-in-my-life/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [It wasn't until I was 35 or 36, when I wrote 'Danny and the Deep Blue Sea,' that I began to get some notoriety,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/it-wasn-t-until-i-was-35-or-36-when-i-wrote-danny-and-the-deep-blue/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [dear god, whose name i do not know. thank you for my life. i forgot... how BIG... thank you. thank you for my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/dear-god-whose-name-i-do-not-know-thank-you-for-my-life-i-forgot-how/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I became a playwright and screenwriter. Italian-Americans were my particular specialty. I liked the way they talked. There was something free in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-became-a-playwright-and-screenwriter-italian-americans-were-my/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I'm Irish as hell: Kelly on one side, Shanley on the other. My father had been born on a farm in the Irish Midlands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-m-irish-as-hell-kelly-on-one-side-shanley-on-the-other-my-father/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [Monogamy is like a 40-watt bulb. It works, but its not enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/monogamy-is-like-a-40-watt-bulb-it-works-but-its-not-enough/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [People ask me if I believe in things: in God, in astrology, and I say, absolutely! I believe in everything! And I believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/people-ask-me-if-i-believe-in-things-in-god-in-astrology-and-i-say/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [Back when you were doing plays like 'The Miracle Worker,' you had 20, 25 people in the cast. When you go to make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/back-when-you-were-doing-plays-like-the-miracle-worker-you-had-20-25/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [Where the terror is, you must go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/where-the-terror-is-you-must-go/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > ['The Miracle Worker' is just such an incredibly powerful play on stage, and is so kinetic, and athletic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/the-miracle-worker-is-just-such-an-incredibly-powerful-play-on-stage/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [Conscience is the most dangerous thing you possess. If you wake it up, it may destroy you. To live a life of total moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/conscience-is-the-most-dangerous-thing-you-possess-if-you-wake-it-up/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I've done very well in the film business. Whenever I have wanted something, the film business has given it to me. I'm very fortunate.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-ve-done-very-well-in-the-film-business-whenever-i-have-wanted/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) [Explore all 48 John Patrick Shanley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) ## More Certainty quotes > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [Sometimes we have the absolute certainty there's something inside us that's so hideous and monstrous that if we ever search it out we won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr/sometimes-we-have-the-absolute-certainty-there-s-something-inside-us/) [Hubert Selby, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr/) > [The past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-past-and-the-future-become-unimportant-there-is-only-that-moment/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [In the mental disturbance and effort of writing, what sustains you is the certainty that on every page there is something left unsaid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/in-the-mental-disturbance-and-effort-of-writing-what-sustains-you-is/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Of course I doubt. I do not practice a certainty. I practice a faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/of-course-i-doubt-i-do-not-practice-a-certainty-i-practice-a-faith/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [The world is a wonderfully weird place, consensual reality is significantly flawed, no institution can be trusted, certainty is a mirage, security a delusion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-world-is-a-wonderfully-weird-place-consensual-reality-is/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As a businessman, I know that businesses need certainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-foster/as-a-businessman-i-know-that-businesses-need-certainty/) [Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/) > [It is suggested that in domestic violence at least the presence or absence of a firearm, or of any other type of weapon, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-greenwood/it-is-suggested-that-in-domestic-violence-at-least-the-presence-or/) [Colin Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-greenwood/) > [Every single person who is a member of our party deserves to have certainty. They deserve to know that my attention and focus is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/every-single-person-who-is-a-member-of-our-party-deserves-to-have/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [The significance and volume of repairs that are needed across the country demand that we give state and local governments the long-term certainty they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-graves/the-significance-and-volume-of-repairs-that-are-needed-across-the/) [Sam Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-graves/) > [“Death is the one great certainty in life. That’s what my dad used to say. Nothing else is certain. Not love. Not happiness. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-gray/death-is-the-one-great-certainty-in-life-that-s-what-my-dad-used-to/) [Mila Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-gray/) > [ \[I\]f in other sciences we should arrive at certainty without doubt and truth without error, it behooves us to place the foundations of knowledge… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/i-f-in-other-sciences-we-should-arrive-at-certainty-without-doubt-and/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [Do not lose hope; St. Joseph also experienced moments of difficulty, but he never lost faith and was able to overcome them, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/do-not-lose-hope-st-joseph-also-experienced-moments-of-difficulty-but/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [Finding someone that trusted my vision helped me find certainty in who I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/finding-someone-that-trusted-my-vision-helped-me-find-certainty-in/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) [Browse all 1,776 Certainty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think that certainty is a closed door, It's the end of the conversation. 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