--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think we're capable of knowledge…" description: "\"I don't think we're capable of knowledge, but I like to keep an open mind. So if you ask me whether I believe in an afterlife or not, whether I believe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1b/jorge-luis-borges-275_afterlife_i-don-t-think-we-re-capable-of-knowledge_52710.jpg" --- # I don't think we're capable of knowledge, but I like to… ![“I don't think we're capable of knowledge, but I like to keep an open mind. So if you ask me whether I believe in an afterlife or not, whether I believe in God or not, I can only answer you that all things are possible. And if all things are possible, heaven and hell and the angels are also…” quote by Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1b/jorge-luis-borges-275_afterlife_i-don-t-think-we-re-capable-of-knowledge_52710.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1b/jorge-luis-borges-275_afterlife_i-don-t-think-we-re-capable-of-knowledge_52710.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1b/jorge-luis-borges-275_afterlife_i-don-t-think-we-re-capable-of-knowledge_52710.jpg) > “I don't think we're capable of knowledge, but I like to keep an open mind. So if you ask me whether I believe in an afterlife or not, whether I believe in God or not, I can only answer you that all things are possible. And if all things are possible, heaven and hell and the angels are also possible. They're not to be ruled out.” [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker expresses epistemic humility, acknowledging uncertainty about metaphysical claims while allowing for any possibility, including religious concepts. **In simple terms:** Openness to any metaphysical possibility. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty, avoid dogma. Themes Epistemic humility Metaphysics Open-mindedness Possibility Religious pluralism Mood Curious Reflective Speculative Type Philosophical Speculative Open-ended When to use this quote - Philosophical debates - Personal belief exploration - Interfaith dialogue - Existential contemplation Key Concepts Knowledge limits Afterlife Divine existence Cosmic possibilities Practical Applications - Encouraging inclusive discussions - Fostering respectful tolerance of beliefs Questions to Reflect On - How does uncertainty shape our worldview? - What value lies in keeping possibilities open? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afterlife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afterlife/) [Afterlife Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afterlife-believe-743096/) [All things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-things/) [Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angel/) [Angels Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angels-possible-743098/) [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Ask me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-me/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Afterlife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-afterlife/) [Believe in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-in-god/) [Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Heaven and hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-and-hell/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [I believe in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe-in/) [I believe in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe-in-god/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Keep an open mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keep-an-open-mind/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Open mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-mind/) [Possible Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible-heaven-743097/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I'm an atheist. I don't believe in the afterlife, but I do believe in ghosts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lowery/i-m-an-atheist-i-don-t-believe-in-the-afterlife-but-i-do-believe-in/) [David Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lowery/) > [I don't believe in the afterlife. I believe this is it, and I believe it's the best way to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/i-don-t-believe-in-the-afterlife-i-believe-this-is-it-and-i-believe/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [Only in this world do we laugh: in hell, it won't be possible; and in heaven, it won't be proper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/only-in-this-world-do-we-laugh-in-hell-it-won-t-be-possible-and-in/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [The biggest impact I can have for what I want to do, the results I want to have with what God's given me, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-monaghan/the-biggest-impact-i-can-have-for-what-i-want-to-do-the-results-i/) [Thomas Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-monaghan/) > [I don't believe in any particular definition of the afterlife, but I do believe we're spiritual creatures and more than our biology and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-ball/i-don-t-believe-in-any-particular-definition-of-the-afterlife-but-i/) [Alan Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-ball/) > [It occurs to me to wonder: do I believe in any god, or even positively not believe, as James does? I believe in systems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-bull/it-occurs-to-me-to-wonder-do-i-believe-in-any-god-or-even-positively/) [Emma Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-bull/) > [“I’m pretty sure he did not believe in God or an afterlife, but he had to believe that there is an immortality in living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radosh/i-m-pretty-sure-he-did-not-believe-in-god-or-an-afterlife-but-he-had/) [Daniel Radosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radosh/) > [Belief in God? An afterlife? I believe in rock: this apodictic rock beneath my feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/belief-in-god-an-afterlife-i-believe-in-rock-this-apodictic-rock/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [I'm an atheist, so I don't believe in a heaven or afterlife. I believe that once I die, that's it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-act/i-m-an-atheist-so-i-don-t-believe-in-a-heaven-or-afterlife-i-believe/) [Courtney Act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-act/) > [I don't believe there's an afterlife - but I don't believe there's an end to life. Consciousness goes beyond the bounds of your body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-cole/i-don-t-believe-there-s-an-afterlife-but-i-don-t-believe-there-s-an/) [Lily Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-cole/) > [“Do you believe in an afterlife? Do your personal beliefs include a life after death?—no matter how they phrase their snotty test, do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/do-you-believe-in-an-afterlife-do-your-personal-beliefs-include-a/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [I don't believe in an afterlife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-sher/i-don-t-believe-in-an-afterlife/) [Antony Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-sher/) > [I don't believe in an afterlife. You live on in the people you influence during your lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/i-don-t-believe-in-an-afterlife-you-live-on-in-the-people-you/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [I think I do believe in the afterlife; I have heard stories from people who I can completely trust that have seen ghosts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saoirse-ronan/i-think-i-do-believe-in-the-afterlife-i-have-heard-stories-from/) [Saoirse Ronan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saoirse-ronan/) > [I don't believe in an afterlife. I don't believe in a single or multiple godhead. I respect people who do, but I don't believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/i-don-t-believe-in-an-afterlife-i-don-t-believe-in-a-single-or/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) ## More by Jorge Luis Borges > [“No hables a menos que puedas mejorar el silencio.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/no-hables-a-menos-que-puedas-mejorar-el-silencio/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Like all writers, he measured the achievements of others by what they had accomplished, asking of them that they measure him by what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/like-all-writers-he-measured-the-achievements-of-others-by-what-they/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [How can we manage to illuminate the pathos of our lives?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/how-can-we-manage-to-illuminate-the-pathos-of-our-lives/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Loneliness does not worry me; life is difficult enough, putting up with yourself and with your own habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/loneliness-does-not-worry-me-life-is-difficult-enough-putting-up-with/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The fact is that all writers create their precursors. Their work modifies our conception of the past, just as it is bound to modify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-fact-is-that-all-writers-create-their-precursors-their-work/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The web of time - the strands of which approach one another, bifurcate, intersect, or ignore each other through the centuries - embraces "every"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-web-of-time-the-strands-of-which-approach-one-another-bifurcate/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [“My memory, sir, is like a garbage disposal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/my-memory-sir-is-like-a-garbage-disposal/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [When I write, I do it urged by an intimate necessity. I don't have in mind an exclusive public, or a public of multitudes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/when-i-write-i-do-it-urged-by-an-intimate-necessity-i-don-t-have-in/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The mind was dreaming. The world was its dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-mind-was-dreaming-the-world-was-its-dream/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I foresee that man will resign himself each day to new abominations, and soon that only bandits and soldiers will be left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-foresee-that-man-will-resign-himself-each-day-to-new-abominations/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [“If I could live again - I will travel light, If I could live again - I'll try to work bare feet at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/if-i-could-live-again-i-will-travel-light-if-i-could-live-again-i-ll/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Every man should be capable of all ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/every-man-should-be-capable-of-all-ideas/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Writing is only a guided dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/writing-is-only-a-guided-dream/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The aesthetic event is something as evident, as immediate, as indefinable as love, the taste of fruit, as water. We feel poetry as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-aesthetic-event-is-something-as-evident-as-immediate-as/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) [Explore all 558 Jorge Luis Borges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) ## More Afterlife quotes > [I don't believe in an afterlife. I don't believe in a single or multiple godhead. I respect people who do, but I don't believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/i-don-t-believe-in-an-afterlife-i-don-t-believe-in-a-single-or/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [“There was no attack on religion because people were generally indifferent to religion. They were neither hot nor cold. They were the tepid, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/there-was-no-attack-on-religion-because-people-were-generally/) [Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/) > [I guess on one hand I believe it doesn't matter if there is life after death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-guess-on-one-hand-i-believe-it-doesn-t-matter-if-there-is-life/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [“And what if there are only spiders there, or something of that sort”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/and-what-if-there-are-only-spiders-there-or-something-of-that-sort/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“The obsession with the afterlife is born of a panic at not having memories of a before-life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-cavanagh/the-obsession-with-the-afterlife-is-born-of-a-panic-at-not-having/) [Dean Cavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-cavanagh/) > [... the man in the violent situation reveals those qualities least dispensable in his personality, those qualities which are all he will have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/the-man-in-the-violent-situation-reveals-those-qualities-least/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [“Most people would probably call me a ghost. I am, after all, dead. But I don't think of myself that way. It wasn't so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-pike/most-people-would-probably-call-me-a-ghost-i-am-after-all-dead-but-i/) [Christopher Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-pike/) > [If critics and fanboys weren't suckers for simplistic nihilism and high-pressure marketing, Afterlife would be universally acclaimed as a visionary feat, superior to Inception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armond-white/if-critics-and-fanboys-weren-t-suckers-for-simplistic-nihilism-and/) [Armond White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armond-white/) > [“People, I thought, wanted security. They couldn’t bare the idea of death being a big black nothing, couldn’t bear the thought of their loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/people-i-thought-wanted-security-they-couldn-t-bare-the-idea-of-death/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Some people are so stiff and inhumane as the dogma's they believe in”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/some-people-are-so-stiff-and-inhumane-as-the-dogma-s-they-believe-in/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [Sometimes I think the resurrection of the body, unless much improved in construction, a mistake!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/sometimes-i-think-the-resurrection-of-the-body-unless-much-improved/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) > [It's my firm conclusion that human meaning comes from humans, not from a supernatural source. After we die, our hopes for an afterlife reside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/it-s-my-firm-conclusion-that-human-meaning-comes-from-humans-not-from/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [“One's past can't be erased, it can only be learned from, the child taught her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-balcomb/one-s-past-can-t-be-erased-it-can-only-be-learned-from-the-child/) [H. L. Balcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-balcomb/) > [It was like I’d stepped out into an afterlife. Only there were no angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-christopher/it-was-like-i-d-stepped-out-into-an-afterlife-only-there-were-no/) [Lucy Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-christopher/) > [“death is predestined for all mortals. Souls live forever, but the body does not. Unless you are immortal, both the soul and body are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yelle-hughes/death-is-predestined-for-all-mortals-souls-live-forever-but-the-body/) [Yelle Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yelle-hughes/) [Browse all 844 Afterlife quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afterlife/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think we're capable of knowledge, but I like to keep an open mind. So if you ask me whether I believe in an afterlife or not, whether I believe in God or not, I can only answer you that all things are possible. And if all things are possible, heaven and hell and the angels are also possible. 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