--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That though we are certain of many…" description: "\"That though we are certain of many things, yet that Certainty is no absolute Infallibility, there still remains the possibility of our being mistaken i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e39/joseph-glanvill-23332_belief_that-though-we-are-certain-of-many-thing_1183502.jpg" --- # That though we are certain of many things, yet that… ![“That though we are certain of many things, yet that Certainty is no absolute Infallibility, there still remains the possibility of our being mistaken in all matters of humane Belief and Inquiry.” quote by Joseph Glanvill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e39/joseph-glanvill-23332_belief_that-though-we-are-certain-of-many-thing_1183502.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e39/joseph-glanvill-23332_belief_that-though-we-are-certain-of-many-thing_1183502.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e39/joseph-glanvill-23332_belief_that-though-we-are-certain-of-many-thing_1183502.jpg) > “That though we are certain of many things, yet that Certainty is no absolute Infallibility, there still remains the possibility of our being mistaken in all matters of humane Belief and Inquiry.” [Joseph Glanvill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-glanvill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human knowledge is fallible; certainty does not guarantee infallibility, so we must stay open to error. **In simple terms:** Certainty isn’t absolute; we can be wrong. Key Takeaway Remain humble and question assumptions. Themes humility epistemology inquiry Mood thoughtful cautious Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - academic research - personal belief - scientific debate Key Concepts Fallibility skepticism critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How do you test your own convictions? - What evidence would change your mind? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can hinder progress if not checked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) [Certainty Absolute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty-absolute-2340557/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Humane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humane/) [Infallibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infallibility/) [Infallibility Remains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infallibility-remains-3480678/) [Inquiry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inquiry/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Mistaken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistaken/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Remains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remains/) [Remains Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remains-possibility-3480679/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Things Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-certainty-2340556/) ## Related quotes > [That though we are certain ofmany things, yet that Certainty is no absolute Infallibility, there still remainsthe possibility of our being mistaken in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-glanvill/that-though-we-are-certain-ofmany-things-yet-that-certainty-is-no/) [Joseph Glanvill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-glanvill/) > [The only things of certainty are Death and Taxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-only-things-of-certainty-are-death-and-taxes/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Infinite possibility in all things is a certainty. That pretty much covers theology and philosophy for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/infinite-possibility-in-all-things-is-a-certainty-that-pretty-much/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [“Those who would argue for the infallibility or the inerrancy of scripture logically should also claim the same infallibility for the churches in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-m-mcdonald/those-who-would-argue-for-the-infallibility-or-the-inerrancy-of/) [Lee M. McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-m-mcdonald/) > [Errors of knowledge are not breaches of morality; no proper moral code can demand infallibility or omniscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/errors-of-knowledge-are-not-breaches-of-morality-no-proper-moral-code/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [The failure of the Reformation to capture France had left for Frenchmen no half-way house between infallibility and infidelity; and while the intellect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/the-failure-of-the-reformation-to-capture-france-had-left-for/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) > [You're only infallible about your own nervous system. You know what's going on in your own nervous system, whatever realities you're creating out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/you-re-only-infallible-about-your-own-nervous-system-you-know-what-s/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [Science makes no claim to infallibility; it leaves that claim to be made by theologians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/science-makes-no-claim-to-infallibility-it-leaves-that-claim-to-be/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [Science alone of all the subjects contains within itself the lesson of the danger of belief in the infallibility of the greatest teachers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/science-alone-of-all-the-subjects-contains-within-itself-the-lesson/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [The persecution of the innovator and protestant has always been inspired by fear on the part of constituted authority of having its infallibility questioned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-persecution-of-the-innovator-and-protestant-has-always-been/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [An infallible Remedy for the Tooth-ach, viz Wash the Root of an aching Tooth, in Elder Vinegar, and let it dry half an hour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/an-infallible-remedy-for-the-tooth-ach-viz-wash-the-root-of-an-aching/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“I have had too much experience of life to believe in the infallibility of doctors. Some of them are clever men and some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-have-had-too-much-experience-of-life-to-believe-in-the/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [ “\[For people\] to refuse a hearing to an opinion, because they are sure that it is false, is to assume that their certainty is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/for-people-to-refuse-a-hearing-to-an-opinion-because-they-are-sure/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [knowledge, absolutely sure of its infallibility, is faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yevgeny-zamyatin/knowledge-absolutely-sure-of-its-infallibility-is-faith/) [Yevgeny Zamyatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yevgeny-zamyatin/) > [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/) ## More by Joseph Glanvill > [To converse at the distance of the Indes by means of sympathetic contrivances may be as natural to future times as to us is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-glanvill/to-converse-at-the-distance-of-the-indes-by-means-of-sympathetic/) [Joseph Glanvill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-glanvill/) > [That though we are certain ofmany things, yet that Certainty is no absolute Infallibility, there still remainsthe possibility of our being mistaken in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-glanvill/that-though-we-are-certain-ofmany-things-yet-that-certainty-is-no/) [Joseph Glanvill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-glanvill/) > [Some pretences daunt and discourage us, while others raise us to a brisk assurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-glanvill/some-pretences-daunt-and-discourage-us-while-others-raise-us-to-a/) [Joseph Glanvill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-glanvill/) > [What's impossible to all humanity may be possible to the metaphysics and physiology of angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-glanvill/what-s-impossible-to-all-humanity-may-be-possible-to-the-metaphysics/) [Joseph Glanvill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-glanvill/) > [Time, as a river, hath brought down to us what is more light and superficial, while things more solid and substantial have been immersed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-glanvill/time-as-a-river-hath-brought-down-to-us-what-is-more-light-and/) [Joseph Glanvill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-glanvill/) > [The union of a sect within itself is a pitiful charity; it's no concord of Christians, but a conspiracy against Christ; and they that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-glanvill/the-union-of-a-sect-within-itself-is-a-pitiful-charity-it-s-no/) [Joseph Glanvill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-glanvill/) > [The woman in us still prosecutes a deceit like that begun in the garden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-glanvill/the-woman-in-us-still-prosecutes-a-deceit-like-that-begun-in-the/) [Joseph Glanvill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-glanvill/) > [It may not be impossible, but that our Faculties may be so construed, as always to deceive us in the things we judge most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-glanvill/it-may-not-be-impossible-but-that-our-faculties-may-be-so-construed/) [Joseph Glanvill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-glanvill/) > [The belief of our Reason is an Exercise of Faith, and Faith is an Act of Reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-glanvill/the-belief-of-our-reason-is-an-exercise-of-faith-and-faith-is-an-act/) [Joseph Glanvill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-glanvill/) > [There is nothing in words and styles out suitableness that makes them acceptable and effective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-glanvill/there-is-nothing-in-words-and-styles-out-suitableness-that-makes-them/) [Joseph Glanvill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-glanvill/) > [The sages of old live again in us, and in opinions there is a metempsychosis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-glanvill/the-sages-of-old-live-again-in-us-and-in-opinions-there-is-a/) [Joseph Glanvill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-glanvill/) > [They that never peeped beyond the common belief in which their easy understandings were at first indoctrinated are strongly assured of the truth of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-glanvill/they-that-never-peeped-beyond-the-common-belief-in-which-their-easy/) [Joseph Glanvill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-glanvill/) > [The precipitancy of disputation, and the stir and noise of passions that usually attend it, must needs be prejudicial to verity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-glanvill/the-precipitancy-of-disputation-and-the-stir-and-noise-of-passions/) [Joseph Glanvill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-glanvill/) > [We cannot conceive how the Foetus is form'd in the Womb, nor as much as how a Plant springs from the Earth we tread…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-glanvill/we-cannot-conceive-how-the-foetus-is-form-d-in-the-womb-nor-as-much/) [Joseph Glanvill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-glanvill/) > [And the will therein lieth, which dieth not. Who knoweth the mysteries of the will, with its vigor? For God is but a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-glanvill/and-the-will-therein-lieth-which-dieth-not-who-knoweth-the-mysteries/) [Joseph Glanvill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-glanvill/) [Explore all 26 Joseph Glanvill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-glanvill/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That though we are certain of many things, yet that Certainty is no absolute Infallibility, there still remains the possibility of our being mistaken in all matters of humane Belief and Inquiry.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph Glanvill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-glanvill/that-though-we-are-certain-of-many-things-yet-that-certainty-is-no/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-glanvill/that-though-we-are-certain-of-many-things-yet-that-certainty-is-no/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e39/joseph-glanvill-23332_belief_that-though-we-are-certain-of-many-thing_1183502.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e39/joseph-glanvill-23332_belief_that-though-we-are-certain-of-many-thing_1183502.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e39/joseph-glanvill-23332_belief_that-though-we-are-certain-of-many-thing_1183502.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That though we are certain of many things, yet that Certainty is no absolute Infallibility, there still…” — Joseph Glanvill", "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": "Joseph Glanvill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-glanvill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "That though we are certain of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-glanvill/that-though-we-are-certain-of-many-things-yet-that-certainty-is-no/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-glanvill/that-though-we-are-certain-of-many-things-yet-that-certainty-is-no/#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 } } ] } ```