--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man is certain of nothing but his ability…" description: "\"“Man is certain of nothing but his ability to fail”\" — Ken Kesey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/ken-kesey-1034_certain_man-is-certain-of-nothing-but-his-abilit_686618.png" --- # Man is certain of nothing but his ability to fail ![“Man is certain of nothing but his ability to fail” quote by Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/ken-kesey-1034_certain_man-is-certain-of-nothing-but-his-abilit_686618.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/ken-kesey-1034_certain_man-is-certain-of-nothing-but-his-abilit_686618.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/ken-kesey-1034_certain_man-is-certain-of-nothing-but-his-abilit_686618.png) > ““Man is certain of nothing but his ability to fail”” [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human certainty is limited; only the capacity to fail is guaranteed, highlighting humility and resilience. **In simple terms:** We can only be sure we can fail. Key Takeaway Embrace failure as a learning tool. Themes humility resilience uncertainty Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - career setbacks - creative endeavors Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does fear of failure shape your choices? - What can you learn from past failures? A Different Perspective Failure alone does not define success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Realism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realism/) ## Related quotes > [We kings do develop a certain ability to recognize objects under our noses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-mckinley/we-kings-do-develop-a-certain-ability-to-recognize-objects-under-our/) [Robin McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-mckinley/) > [One of the things I'm most proud of about myself is my ability to fail in front of the world. You have to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solange-knowles/one-of-the-things-i-m-most-proud-of-about-myself-is-my-ability-to/) [Solange Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solange-knowles/) > [The ability to fail quietly without having that failure associated with your name/identity allows for more experimentation and limit pushing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-poole/the-ability-to-fail-quietly-without-having-that-failure-associated/) [Christopher Poole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-poole/) > [“He's a full grown man of a certain age - of which I now know - and a mouthwatering one at that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-ellen-malpas/he-s-a-full-grown-man-of-a-certain-age-of-which-i-now-know-and-a/) [Jodi Ellen Malpas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-ellen-malpas/) > [I say that a man must be certain of his morality for the simple reason that he has to suffer for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/i-say-that-a-man-must-be-certain-of-his-morality-for-the-simple/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Now I've realized that every man has a certain nature. Some people prefer something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/now-i-ve-realized-that-every-man-has-a-certain-nature-some-people/) Mak\_786 > [A man who is certain he is right is almost sure to be wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-faraday/a-man-who-is-certain-he-is-right-is-almost-sure-to-be-wrong/) [Michael Faraday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-faraday/) > [“When a man is certain that he knows God’s will, and is resolved to do it regardless of the cost, he is the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/when-a-man-is-certain-that-he-knows-god-s-will-and-is-resolved-to-do/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [Every man has a certain sphere of discretion which he has a right to expect shall not be infringed by his neighbours. This right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/every-man-has-a-certain-sphere-of-discretion-which-he-has-a-right-to/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [“Man must be certain of his morality for the simple reason that he has to suffer for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/man-must-be-certain-of-his-morality-for-the-simple-reason-that-he-has/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [The Christian is a man who can be certain about the ultimate even when he is most uncertain about the immediate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-christian-is-a-man-who-can-be-certain-about-the-ultimate-even/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“particularly when his people’s welfare was at stake. Now, feeling his gray eyes boring into hers, feeling the bridled power of the fingers wrapped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-mcgoldrick/particularly-when-his-people-s-welfare-was-at-stake-now-feeling-his/) May McGoldrick > [To say that a man is made up of certain chemical elements is a satisfactory description only for those who intend to use him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-joseph-muller/to-say-that-a-man-is-made-up-of-certain-chemical-elements-is-a/) [Hermann Joseph Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-joseph-muller/) > [Every man becomes, to a certain degree, what the people he generally converses with are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-man-becomes-to-a-certain-degree-what-the-people-he-generally/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man must have a certain amount of intelligent ignorance to get anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-must-have-a-certain-amount-of-intelligent-ignorance-to-get/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ken Kesey > [“Time overlaps itself. A breath breathed from a passing breeze is not the whole wind, neither is it just the last of what has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/time-overlaps-itself-a-breath-breathed-from-a-passing-breeze-is-not/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [The Grateful Dead are faster than light drive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/the-grateful-dead-are-faster-than-light-drive/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [“Okay, stand outa the way. Sometimes when I go to exertin' myself I use up all the air nearby and grown men faint from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/okay-stand-outa-the-way-sometimes-when-i-go-to-exertin-myself-i-use/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [The frontiers we broke into in the '60s are still largely unexplored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/the-frontiers-we-broke-into-in-the-60s-are-still-largely-unexplored/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [There's something about taking a plow and breaking new ground. It gives you energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/there-s-something-about-taking-a-plow-and-breaking-new-ground-it/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [The best of all possible cages.' Ben stepped back to regard the job with a sad smile. 'What more can one ask?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/the-best-of-all-possible-cages-ben-stepped-back-to-regard-the-job/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [Your trouble is, you keep trying to unscrew the unscrutable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/your-trouble-is-you-keep-trying-to-unscrew-the-unscrutable/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [That ain't me, that ain't my face. It wasn't even me when I was trying to be that face. I wasn't even really me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/that-ain-t-me-that-ain-t-my-face-it-wasn-t-even-me-when-i-was-trying/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [But if the strength ain't real, I recall thinking the very last thing that day, before I finally passed out, then the weakness sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/but-if-the-strength-ain-t-real-i-recall-thinking-the-very-last-thing/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [“They think they know the book by its cover, but the book knows what it is. Now he knew better; if the book never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/they-think-they-know-the-book-by-its-cover-but-the-book-knows-what-it/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [More was revealed in a human face than a human being can bear face to face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/more-was-revealed-in-a-human-face-than-a-human-being-can-bear-face-to/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [If this glorious birth to death hassle is the only hassle we are ever to have ..if our grand exhilarating fight of life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/if-this-glorious-birth-to-death-hassle-is-the-only-hassle-we-are-ever/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [“It's gonna burn me just that way, finally telling about all this, about the hospital, and her, and the guys- and about McMurphy. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/it-s-gonna-burn-me-just-that-way-finally-telling-about-all-this-about/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [When Shakespeare was writing, he wasn't writing for stuff to lie on the page; it was supposed to get up and move around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/when-shakespeare-was-writing-he-wasn-t-writing-for-stuff-to-lie-on/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [“And then some guy wandering as lost as you would all of a sudden be right before your eyes, his face bigger and clearer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/and-then-some-guy-wandering-as-lost-as-you-would-all-of-a-sudden-be/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) [Explore all 295 Ken Kesey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) ## More Certain quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [People don't always realize that a record is forever. It'll always be there under your name. You've got to be certain that it's right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/people-don-t-always-realize-that-a-record-is-forever-it-ll-always-be/) [Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [Why do we love certain homes, and why do they seem to love us? It is the warmth of our individual hearts reflected in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-robsjohn-gibbings/why-do-we-love-certain-homes-and-why-do-they-seem-to-love-us-it-is/) T. H. 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