Knowledge Quote by Peter Abelard
““The master key of knowledge is, indeed, a persistent and frequent questioning. Aristotle, the most clear-sighted of all the philosophers, was desirous above all things else to arouse this questioning spirit, for in his Categories he exhorts a student as follows: "It may well be difficult to reach a positive conclusion in these matters unless they be frequently discussed. It is by no means fruitless to be doubtful on particular points." By doubting we come to examine, and by examining we reach the truth””
About This Quote
Source Philosophical Treatise: Sic et Non, 1120s
Questioning and doubt drive deeper examination, leading toward truth through discussion and analysis.
In simple terms: Doubt and questioning reveal truth.
Key Takeaway
Embrace doubt, discuss often.
Themes
philosophy
inquiry
truth
education
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- academic debates
- classroom discussions
- personal reflection
- research meetings
Key Concepts
critical thinking
Socratic method
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- What questions have you avoided out of fear?
- How can you balance doubt with action?
A Different Perspective
Excessive doubt can stall decision‑making and cause indecision.
![“I never knew any man who had once tasted the sweetness of experimental knowledge, that ever afterward fasted after ye Vapour garlick and onions of phantasmatical seeming philosophy." [William Petty]” quote by Carl Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e5a/carl-zimmer-16331_knowledge_i-never-knew-any-man-who-had-once-tasted_1770.jpg)
