--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's always the worst: the not knowing…" description: "\"“That's always the worst: the not knowing. Because then you're stuck with a hundred questions no one can answer.”\" — Marni Bates" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/marni-bates-41188_curiosity_that-s-always-the-worst-the-not-knowing_1991996.jpg" --- # That's always the worst: the not knowing. Because then… ![“That's always the worst: the not knowing. Because then you're stuck with a hundred questions no one can answer.” quote by Marni Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/marni-bates-41188_curiosity_that-s-always-the-worst-the-not-knowing_1991996.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/marni-bates-41188_curiosity_that-s-always-the-worst-the-not-knowing_1991996.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/marni-bates-41188_curiosity_that-s-always-the-worst-the-not-knowing_1991996.jpg) > ““That's always the worst: the not knowing. Because then you're stuck with a hundred questions no one can answer.”” [Marni Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marni-bates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She notes that not knowing creates anxiety, as endless unanswered questions leave one feeling stuck. **In simple terms:** Not knowing causes anxiety and feeling stuck. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty and seek answers. Themes uncertainty anxiety knowledge Mood thoughtful analytical Type psychological motivational When to use this quote - problem solving - mental health - research planning Key Concepts psychology decision‑making information overload Questions to Reflect On - How do you cope with unanswered questions? - What strategies reduce uncertainty? A Different Perspective Uncertainty can be paralyzing without actionable steps. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer/) [Curiosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curiosity/) [Knowing Stuck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-stuck-3458388/) [Mackenzie-wellesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mackenzie-wellesley-115408/) [Questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questions/) [Questions Answer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questions-answer-240769/) [Stuck Questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuck-questions-3458387/) [Worst Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-knowing-1855164/) ## Related quotes > [“Stupid patriarchal culture with stupid ideas of beauty—stupid me for going along with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marni-bates/stupid-patriarchal-culture-with-stupid-ideas-of-beauty-stupid-me-for/) [Marni Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marni-bates/) > [“Too late to point out that he would be better off with someone smart and sweet and—okay—awkward than with Chelsea. Someone who could make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marni-bates/too-late-to-point-out-that-he-would-be-better-off-with-someone-smart/) [Marni Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marni-bates/) > [“...everyone would wonder, 'What's he doing with her?' And then you'd say, 'Hmm, good question,' and you'd dump me. That wouldn't be nice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marni-bates/everyone-would-wonder-what-s-he-doing-with-her-and-then-you-d-say-hmm/) [Marni Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marni-bates/) > [There are many questions, but I cannot answer because I'm not a businessman, I am a climber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoli-boukreev/there-are-many-questions-but-i-cannot-answer-because-i-m-not-a/) [Anatoli Boukreev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoli-boukreev/) > [Its not that questions are made to answer, its answers which existed even before we knew how to question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/its-not-that-questions-are-made-to-answer-its-answers-which-existed/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > [“There was no answer, except the general answer life gives to all the most complex and insoluble questions. That answer is: one must live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/there-was-no-answer-except-the-general-answer-life-gives-to-all-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The worst is knowing I can't tell anybody what's happening -or what's happened- to me. Not even my mom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/the-worst-is-knowing-i-can-t-tell-anybody-what-s-happening-or-what-s/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“The worst part is knowing what would have been.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/the-worst-part-is-knowing-what-would-have-been/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [The worst part is not knowing if you're making the right choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-worst-part-is-not-knowing-if-you-re-making-the-right-choice/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The worst part? Knowing that since a book this moving, this enthralling and enveloping comes along, as I said, only every once in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amazon-books-editors/the-worst-part-knowing-that-since-a-book-this-moving-this-enthralling/) [Amazon Books Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amazon-books-editors/) > [I'm literally the worst at knowing if a guy likes me or not. Unless he actually says something then it's like I'm blind to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-literally-the-worst-at-knowing-if-a-guy-likes-me-or-not-unless-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [How wrong people always were when they said: 'It's better to know the worst than go on not knowing either way.' No; they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/how-wrong-people-always-were-when-they-said-it-s-better-to-know-the/) [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) > [The best thing about trusting someone with every secret you have, is that they always have your back... The worst is knowing they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-thing-about-trusting-someone-with-every-secret-you-have-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The worst part of this all is not knowing if you are going to make the right decision, listening to your heart or your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lmonika-geidane/the-worst-part-of-this-all-is-not-knowing-if-you-are-going-to-make/) [LMonika Geidane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lmonika-geidane/) > [What was it to love someone, what was love exactly, and why did it end or not end? Those were the real questions, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/what-was-it-to-love-someone-what-was-love-exactly-and-why-did-it-end/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) ## More by Marni Bates > [“Too late to point out that he would be better off with someone smart and sweet and—okay—awkward than with Chelsea. Someone who could make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marni-bates/too-late-to-point-out-that-he-would-be-better-off-with-someone-smart/) [Marni Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marni-bates/) > [“How stupid would that sound? It was high school, not the Hindu cast system, where the Untouchables have to avoid 'polluting' the upper classes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marni-bates/how-stupid-would-that-sound-it-was-high-school-not-the-hindu-cast/) [Marni Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marni-bates/) > [“...everyone would wonder, 'What's he doing with her?' And then you'd say, 'Hmm, good question,' and you'd dump me. That wouldn't be nice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marni-bates/everyone-would-wonder-what-s-he-doing-with-her-and-then-you-d-say-hmm/) [Marni Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marni-bates/) > [“...I never would have seen Chelsea reach up, take Logan's face in her hands, and kiss him. So the off again was definitely on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marni-bates/i-never-would-have-seen-chelsea-reach-up-take-logan-s-face-in-her/) [Marni Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marni-bates/) > [“You don't have to be anyone but yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marni-bates/you-don-t-have-to-be-anyone-but-yourself/) [Marni Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marni-bates/) > [“I fought the urge to flee by reminding myself that I couldn't run away every time I felt uncomfortable, embarrassed or hurt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marni-bates/i-fought-the-urge-to-flee-by-reminding-myself-that-i-couldn-t-run/) [Marni Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marni-bates/) > [“And while, yes, a normal day for me means three AP classes, it really isn't so bad. Definitely stressful, but...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marni-bates/and-while-yes-a-normal-day-for-me-means-three-ap-classes-it-really/) [marni bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marni-bates/) > [“Stupid patriarchal culture with stupid ideas of beauty—stupid me for going along with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marni-bates/stupid-patriarchal-culture-with-stupid-ideas-of-beauty-stupid-me-for/) [Marni Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marni-bates/) > [“What?" My head jerked up too quickly and I lost my balance. The stupid skates sent me hurtling toward the ground, which was exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marni-bates/what-my-head-jerked-up-too-quickly-and-i-lost-my-balance-the-stupid/) [Marni Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marni-bates/) [Explore all 10 Marni Bates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marni-bates/) ## More Answer quotes > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [What you are is a question only you can answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/what-you-are-is-a-question-only-you-can-answer/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [“And if you can’t say yes, answer anyway. Because I’d rather live with the answer than die with the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ellis/and-if-you-can-t-say-yes-answer-anyway-because-i-d-rather-live-with/) [Jon Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ellis/) > [“There is a cure and answer to everything, we just haven't found them yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-halimi/there-is-a-cure-and-answer-to-everything-we-just-haven-t-found-them/) [Eve Halimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-halimi/) > [Whenever I'm asked about Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, I always answer: 'Neymar is the best,' not just because of his goals but because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/whenever-i-m-asked-about-cristiano-ronaldo-or-lionel-messi-i-always/) [Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/) > [A wiki works best where you're trying to answer a question that you can't easily pose, where there's not a natural structure that's known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/a-wiki-works-best-where-you-re-trying-to-answer-a-question-that-you/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [“Those are good questions. I recognize good questions, because I can come up with them myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-brust/those-are-good-questions-i-recognize-good-questions-because-i-can/) [Steven Brust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-brust/) > [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I'll answer anything... I'm brutally honest, actually, which gets me in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/i-ll-answer-anything-i-m-brutally-honest-actually-which-gets-me-in/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) > [“...I guess I can put two and two together." "Sometimes the answer's four," I said, "and sometimes it's twenty-two...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/i-guess-i-can-put-two-and-two-together-sometimes-the-answer-s-four-i/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [Jumping someone is never the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jumping-someone-is-never-the-answer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I play along myself, even though I can't help the player. So I can't say what I think the answer might be. But I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-mcguinness/i-play-along-myself-even-though-i-can-t-help-the-player-so-i-can-t/) [Paddy McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-mcguinness/) > [Sometimes the question is complicated, but the answers are simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-suess/sometimes-the-question-is-complicated-but-the-answers-are-simple/) [Dr Suess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-suess/) [Browse all 2,090 Answer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“That's always the worst: the not knowing. 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