--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Knowledge would be fatal. It is the…" description: "\"“Knowledge would be fatal. It is the uncertainty that charms one. A mist makes things wonderful.” “One may lose one’s way.” “All ways end at the same p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/oscar-wilde-16_doubt_knowledge-would-be-fatal-it-is-the-uncer_1096799.jpg" --- # Knowledge would be fatal. It is the uncertainty that… ![“Knowledge would be fatal. It is the uncertainty that charms one. A mist makes things wonderful.” “One may lose one’s way.” “All ways end at the same point, my dear Gladys.” “What is that?” “Disillusion.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/oscar-wilde-16_doubt_knowledge-would-be-fatal-it-is-the-uncer_1096799.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/oscar-wilde-16_doubt_knowledge-would-be-fatal-it-is-the-uncer_1096799.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/oscar-wilde-16_doubt_knowledge-would-be-fatal-it-is-the-uncer_1096799.jpg) > ““Knowledge would be fatal. It is the uncertainty that charms one. A mist makes things wonderful.” “One may lose one’s way.” “All ways end at the same point, my dear Gladys.” “What is that?” “Disillusion.”” [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects on the paradox that certainty can be limiting, while uncertainty and doubt make life intriguing and beautiful, leading ultimately to disillusion. **In simple terms:** Uncertainty makes life interesting; certainty can be deadly. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty, seek wonder. Themes uncertainty beauty disillusion paradox philosophy Mood reflective melancholic thoughtful Type literary philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - creative writing - personal growth - decision making - risk assessment Key Concepts existentialism aestheticism human experience Questions to Reflect On - How does uncertainty inspire creativity? - When does doubt become harmful? A Different Perspective Uncertainty can also cause anxiety and paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Fatal Uncertainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fatal-uncertainty-2864356/) [Gladys Disillusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gladys-disillusion-2864358/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Fatal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-fatal-2864357/) [Uncertainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncertainty/) [Uncertainty Charms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncertainty-charms-2348438/) ## Related quotes > [Knowledge would be fatal. It is the uncertainty that charms one. A mist makes things wonderful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/knowledge-would-be-fatal-it-is-the-uncertainty-that-charms-one-a-mist/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Are you very much in love with him?' he asked. She did not answer for some time, but stood gazing at the landscape. 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/are-you-very-much-in-love-with-him-he-asked-she-did-not-answer-for/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“It is the uncertainty that charms one. A mist makes things wonderful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-the-uncertainty-that-charms-one-a-mist-makes-things-wonderful/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Liittle knowledge is dangerous. Flawed knowledge is fatal!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nandini-deka/liittle-knowledge-is-dangerous-flawed-knowledge-is-fatal/) [Nandini Deka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nandini-deka/) > [“...the future is closed to us; were it not, life would be insupportable, as only uncertainty admits of hope”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-michael-hurd/the-future-is-closed-to-us-were-it-not-life-would-be-insupportable-as/) [Stanley Michael Hurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-michael-hurd/) > [But since the Modernists (as they are commonly and rightly called) employ a very clever artifice, namely, to present their doctrines without order and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-x/but-since-the-modernists-as-they-are-commonly-and-rightly-called/) [Pope Pius X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-x/) > [“It is absurd, Barthes says, to try to flee from language's assertive nature 'adding to each sentence some little phrase of uncertainty, as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-nelson/it-is-absurd-barthes-says-to-try-to-flee-from-language-s-assertive/) [Maggie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-nelson/) > [As you become comfortable with uncertainty, infinite possibilities open up in your life. It means fear is no longer a dominant factor in what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/as-you-become-comfortable-with-uncertainty-infinite-possibilities/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Uncertainty! fell demon of our fears! The human soul that can support despair, supports not thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mallet/uncertainty-fell-demon-of-our-fears-the-human-soul-that-can-support/) [David Mallet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mallet/) > [Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-allen-paulos/uncertainty-is-the-only-certainty-there-is-and-knowing-how-to-live/) [John Allen Paulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-allen-paulos/) > [Uncertainty and expectation are the joys of life. Security is an insipid thing, through the overtaking and possessing of a wish discovers the folly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/uncertainty-and-expectation-are-the-joys-of-life-security-is-an/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [If you just watch a teenager, you see a lot of uncertainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-curtis/if-you-just-watch-a-teenager-you-see-a-lot-of-uncertainty/) [Jamie Lee Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-curtis/) > [Uncertainty will always be part of the taking charge process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/uncertainty-will-always-be-part-of-the-taking-charge-process/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Uncertainty that comes from knowledge (knowing what you don't know) is different from uncertainty coming from ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/uncertainty-that-comes-from-knowledge-knowing-what-you-don-t-know-is/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [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/) ## More by Oscar Wilde > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-books-that-the-world-calls-immoral-are-the-books-that-show-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/bachelors-should-be-heavily-taxed-it-is-not-fair-that-some-men-should/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Who, being loved, is poor?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/who-being-loved-is-poor/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Basil my dear boy puts everything that is charming in him into his work. The consequence is that he has nothing left for life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-my-dear-boy-puts-everything-that-is-charming-in-him-into-his/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Anybody can be good in the country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/anybody-can-be-good-in-the-country/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I don't at all like knowing what people say of me behind my back. It makes me far too conceited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-don-t-at-all-like-knowing-what-people-say-of-me-behind-my-back-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Alles Populäre ist falsch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/alles-popul-re-ist-falsch/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“If these elements of beauty are real, the whole thing simply appeals to our sense of dramatic effect. Suddenly we find that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-these-elements-of-beauty-are-real-the-whole-thing-simply-appeals/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [To love one's self is the beginning of a life-long romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/to-love-one-s-self-is-the-beginning-of-a-life-long-romance/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/those-who-find-beautiful-meanings-in-beautiful-things-are-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Men always want to be a womans first love. Women have a more subtle instinct: What they like is to be a mans last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/men-always-want-to-be-a-womans-first-love-women-have-a-more-subtle/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Why is it that at a bachelor's establishment the servants invariably drink the champagne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/why-is-it-that-at-a-bachelor-s-establishment-the-servants-invariably/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Moderation is a fatal thing. Enough is as bad as a meal. More than enough is as good as a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/moderation-is-a-fatal-thing-enough-is-as-bad-as-a-meal-more-than/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Beauty is the only thing that time cannot harm. Philosophies fall away like sand, creeds follow one another, but what is beautiful is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/beauty-is-the-only-thing-that-time-cannot-harm-philosophies-fall-away/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Explore all 3,343 Oscar Wilde quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "“Knowledge would be fatal. It is the uncertainty that charms one. A mist makes things wonderful.” “One may lose one’s way.” “All ways end at the same point, my dear Gladys.” “What is that?” “Disillusion.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Wilde" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/knowledge-would-be-fatal-it-is-the-uncertainty-that-charms-one-a-mist-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doubt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/knowledge-would-be-fatal-it-is-the-uncertainty-that-charms-one-a-mist-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/oscar-wilde-16_doubt_knowledge-would-be-fatal-it-is-the-uncer_1096799.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/oscar-wilde-16_doubt_knowledge-would-be-fatal-it-is-the-uncer_1096799.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/oscar-wilde-16_doubt_knowledge-would-be-fatal-it-is-the-uncer_1096799.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Knowledge would be fatal. It is the uncertainty that charms one. A mist makes things wonderful.” “One may…” — Oscar Wilde", "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": "Oscar Wilde", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Knowledge would be fatal. It is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/knowledge-would-be-fatal-it-is-the-uncertainty-that-charms-one-a-mist-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/knowledge-would-be-fatal-it-is-the-uncertainty-that-charms-one-a-mist-2/#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 } } ] } ```