Certainty Quote by Nikos Kazantzakis
““Gradually I began to understand that it does not matter very much what problem, whether big or small, is tormenting us; the only thing that matters it that we be tormented, that we find a ground for being tormented. In other words, that we exercise our minds in order to keep certainty from turning us into idiots, that we fight to open every closed door we find in front of us.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Zorba the Greek, Nikos Kazantzakis, 1946
We must embrace mental struggle as a way to avoid complacency and keep our intellect sharp.
In simple terms: Embrace struggle to stay sharp.
Key Takeaway
Seek challenges that sharpen thinking.
Themes
philosophy
psychology
resilience
Mood
thoughtful
introspective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- academic study
- creative problem solving
Key Concepts
existentialism
critical thinking
self‑discipline
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you seek challenges for growth or avoid discomfort?
- How does mental tension foster clarity?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on suffering can lead to burnout.
![“[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)