Certainty Quote by May Sarton
“The minute one utters a certainty, the opposite comes to mind.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Collected Poems and Essays, 1975
Expresses that stating something with absolute confidence often triggers the mind to consider the opposite viewpoint, highlighting mental tension between certainty and doubt.
In simple terms: Being sure can make us think of the opposite.
Key Takeaway
Question your certainties.
Themes
certainty
doubt
mindset
reflection
Mood
contemplative
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- decision making
- debates
- creative brainstorming
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
cognitive dissonance
self-awareness
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you notice opposite thoughts when you assert something?
- How does doubt improve judgment?
A Different Perspective
Certainty may blind us to nuance.
![“[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 in mathematics, in so far as disposed through it we are able to reach certainty in other sciences and truth by the exclusion of error.” quote by Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d13/roger-bacon-15067_able_i-f-in-other-sciences-we-should-arrive-a_24209.jpg)