---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To succeed in science, one must doubt; to…"
description: "\"To succeed in science, one must doubt; to succeed in life, one must be sure.\" — Leo Errera"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/leo-errera-33830_doubt_to-succeed-in-science-one-must-doubt-to_2943577.jpg"
---

#  To succeed in science, one must doubt; to succeed in life…

![“To succeed in science, one must doubt; to succeed in life, one must be sure.” quote by Leo Errera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/leo-errera-33830_doubt_to-succeed-in-science-one-must-doubt-to_2943577.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/leo-errera-33830_doubt_to-succeed-in-science-one-must-doubt-to_2943577.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/leo-errera-33830_doubt_to-succeed-in-science-one-must-doubt-to_2943577.jpg)

> “To succeed in science, one must doubt; to succeed in life, one must be sure.”

[Leo Errera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-errera/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Science requires doubt; life requires confidence for success

**In simple terms:** Doubt fuels scientific progress; confidence drives life success

Key Takeaway

Cultivate doubt in inquiry, confidence in living

Themes

science confidence success

Mood

inquisitive encouraging

Type

educational philosophical

When to use this quote

- research
- personal development
- education

Key Concepts

philosophy psychology methodology

Questions to Reflect On

- How does doubt improve scientific work?
- What confidence supports personal growth?

A Different Perspective

Overconfidence can hinder learning

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/)

## Related quotes

> [Young people, those who think they're experts in science, there's no doubt. They just believe it, and so there has to be an explanation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/young-people-those-who-think-they-re-experts-in-science-there-s-no/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [You will encounter many distractions and many temptations to put your goal aside: The security of a job, a wife who wants kids, whatever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/you-will-encounter-many-distractions-and-many-temptations-to-put-your/)

[Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/)

> [Tolerance for uncertainty is the prerequisite to succeeding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bayles/tolerance-for-uncertainty-is-the-prerequisite-to-succeeding/)

[David Bayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bayles/)

> [I was annoyed from the start by the attitude of doubt by the spectators that I would never really make the flight. This attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-quimby/i-was-annoyed-from-the-start-by-the-attitude-of-doubt-by-the/)

[Harriet Quimby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-quimby/)

> [At length weariness succeeds to labor, and the mind lies at ease in the contemplation of her own attainments without any desire of new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/at-length-weariness-succeeds-to-labor-and-the-mind-lies-at-ease-in/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [We don't always know the details of our future. We do not know what lies ahead. We live in a time of uncertainty. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-don-t-always-know-the-details-of-our-future-we-do-not-know-what/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [Criticism, though dignified from the earliest ages by the labours of men eminent for knowledge and sagacity, has not yet attained the certainty and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/criticism-though-dignified-from-the-earliest-ages-by-the-labours-of/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [“Men wanted certainties, not more causes for doubt, and since the discoveries of science perplexed them with strange theories about the earth on which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-v-wedgewood/men-wanted-certainties-not-more-causes-for-doubt-and-since-the/)

C. V. Wedgewood

> [ \[I\]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/)

> [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/)

[Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/)

> [My willingness to fail gives me the ability to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/my-willingness-to-fail-gives-me-the-ability-to-succeed/)

[Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/)

> [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/)

[Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/)

> [If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. No use being a damn fool about it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wc-fields/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-try-try-again-then-quit-no-use-being-a/)

[WC Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wc-fields/)

> [You need to remind people that you vote, you matter, and that they can't succeed without your help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-need-to-remind-people-that-you-vote-you-matter-and-that-they-can/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“If you start and persist you will succeed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/if-you-start-and-persist-you-will-succeed/)

[Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/)

## More by Leo Errera

> [Dieu, c'est le voile mystérieux sous lequel nous cachons notre ignorance de la cause première. God is the mysterious veil under which we hide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-errera/dieu-c-est-le-voile-myst-rieux-sous-lequel-nous-cachons-notre/)

[Leo Errera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-errera/)

> ["Le génie n'est qu'une longue patience", a dit Buffon. Cela est bien incomplet. Le génie, c'est l'impatience dans les idées et la patience dans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-errera/le-g-nie-n-est-qu-une-longue-patience-a-dit-buffon-cela-est-bien/)

[Leo Errera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-errera/)

> [Truth is on a curve whose asymptote our spirit follows eternally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-errera/truth-is-on-a-curve-whose-asymptote-our-spirit-follows-eternally/)

[Leo Errera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-errera/)

> [What are we doing down here? We prepare the blossoms of tomorrow. We all manure future humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-errera/what-are-we-doing-down-here-we-prepare-the-blossoms-of-tomorrow-we/)

[Leo Errera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-errera/)

> ["Genius is just enduring patience," said Buffon. This is far from complete. Genius is impatience in ideas and patience with the facts: a lively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-errera/genius-is-just-enduring-patience-said-buffon-this-is-far-from/)

[Leo Errera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-errera/)

> [The altruism of foresters can serve as a motto for humanity in general: "We reap what we have not sown. We sow what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-errera/the-altruism-of-foresters-can-serve-as-a-motto-for-humanity-in/)

[Leo Errera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-errera/)

> [Isn't this the perfect image of the noblest selflessness, and thereby presents an example and a model? It should be inspiring: like them, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-errera/isn-t-this-the-perfect-image-of-the-noblest-selflessness-and-thereby/)

[Leo Errera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-errera/)

> [La vérité est sur une courbe dont notre ésprit suit éternellement l'asymptote. Truth is on a curve whose asymptote our spirit follows eternally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-errera/la-v-rit-est-sur-une-courbe-dont-notre-sprit-suit-ternellement-l/)

[Leo Errera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-errera/)

> [God is the mysterious veil under which we hide our ignorance of the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-errera/god-is-the-mysterious-veil-under-which-we-hide-our-ignorance-of-the/)

[Leo Errera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-errera/)

> [Truth is different from error in two respects: it is a little harder to prove and more difficult to admit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-errera/truth-is-different-from-error-in-two-respects-it-is-a-little-harder/)

[Leo Errera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-errera/)

> [The paradox is the seed of truth. This germ just needs a fertile ground to flourish and bear fruit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-errera/the-paradox-is-the-seed-of-truth-this-germ-just-needs-a-fertile/)

[Leo Errera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-errera/)

> [Civilization is the art of creating useless needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-errera/civilization-is-the-art-of-creating-useless-needs/)

[Leo Errera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-errera/)

[Explore all 13 Leo Errera quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-errera/)

## 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

> [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

> [“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": "To succeed in science, one must doubt; to succeed in life, one must be sure.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Leo Errera"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-errera/to-succeed-in-science-one-must-doubt-to-succeed-in-life-one-must-be/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Doubt"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-errera/to-succeed-in-science-one-must-doubt-to-succeed-in-life-one-must-be/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/leo-errera-33830_doubt_to-succeed-in-science-one-must-doubt-to_2943577.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/leo-errera-33830_doubt_to-succeed-in-science-one-must-doubt-to_2943577.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/leo-errera-33830_doubt_to-succeed-in-science-one-must-doubt-to_2943577.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“To succeed in science, one must doubt; to succeed in life, one must be sure.” — Leo Errera",
                "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": "Leo Errera",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-errera/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "To succeed in science, one must...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-errera/to-succeed-in-science-one-must-doubt-to-succeed-in-life-one-must-be/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-errera/to-succeed-in-science-one-must-doubt-to-succeed-in-life-one-must-be/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
