---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't feel frightened by not knowing…"
description: "\"I don't feel frightened by not knowing things, by being lost in a mysterious universe without any purpose, which is the way it really is, as far as I c..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/richard-p-feynman-495_death_i-don-t-feel-frightened-by-not-knowing-t_766834.png"
---

#  I don't feel frightened by not knowing things, by being…

![“I don't feel frightened by not knowing things, by being lost in a mysterious universe without any purpose, which is the way it really is, as far as I can tell. Possibly. It doesn't frighten me.” quote by Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/richard-p-feynman-495_death_i-don-t-feel-frightened-by-not-knowing-t_766834.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/richard-p-feynman-495_death_i-don-t-feel-frightened-by-not-knowing-t_766834.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/richard-p-feynman-495_death_i-don-t-feel-frightened-by-not-knowing-t_766834.png)

> “I don't feel frightened by not knowing things, by being lost in a mysterious universe without any purpose, which is the way it really is, as far as I can tell. Possibly. It doesn't frighten me.”

[Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Embracing uncertainty and the unknown is not frightening; it reflects acceptance of life's inherent mystery.

**In simple terms:** Accepting the unknown reduces fear.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate comfort with uncertainty.

Themes

philosophy science existentialism acceptance

Mood

thoughtful calm inquisitive

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal reflection
- academic discourse
- spiritual contemplation

Key Concepts

uncertainty meaninglessness

Questions to Reflect On

- What does uncertainty teach you about yourself?
- How can you find comfort in ambiguity?

A Different Perspective

Some may find meaning in purpose, not just acceptance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Mysterious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mysterious/) [Mysterious universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mysterious-universe/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/)

## Related quotes

> [I don't feel frightened by not knowing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/i-don-t-feel-frightened-by-not-knowing-things/)

[Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/)

> [I think it's much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong. I have approximate answers and possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/i-think-it-s-much-more-interesting-to-live-not-knowing-than-to-have-4/)

[Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/)

> [I think it's much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong. I have approximate answers, and possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/i-think-it-s-much-more-interesting-to-live-not-knowing-than-to-have-3/)

[Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/)

> [Death would be a complete knowingness, but what frightened him was this: not knowing beforehand what it was he would know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/death-would-be-a-complete-knowingness-but-what-frightened-him-was/)

[Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/)

> [I have never met any really wicked person before. I feel rather frightened. I am so afraid he will look just like every one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-have-never-met-any-really-wicked-person-before-i-feel-rather/)

[Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/)

> [Survivors have a difficult time expressing their feelings. They are more accustomed to minimizing their pain and hiding how they really feel, both from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-engel/survivors-have-a-difficult-time-expressing-their-feelings-they-are/)

[Beverly Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverly-engel/)

> [If I look back I feel frightened, not happy, because my life is a bit of a mystery to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manolo-blahnik/if-i-look-back-i-feel-frightened-not-happy-because-my-life-is-a-bit/)

[Manolo Blahnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manolo-blahnik/)

> [“You see, one thing is, I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. I think it's much more interesting to live not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/you-see-one-thing-is-i-can-live-with-doubt-and-uncertainty-and-not-2/)

[Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/)

> [“I was frightened again, knowing thatmy having seen God that morning was only my stupid imagination. Everything was going to be as bad as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-cross/i-was-frightened-again-knowing-thatmy-having-seen-god-that-morning/)

[Ian Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-cross/)

> [The only difference now, for what it's worth, is that I know that these things don't matter. I know that I don't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brooks/the-only-difference-now-for-what-it-s-worth-is-that-i-know-that-these/)

[Kevin Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brooks/)

> [If anyone can figure out how to balance my celebrity and my dual careers in music and film, it's me. I don't feel frightened;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lopez/if-anyone-can-figure-out-how-to-balance-my-celebrity-and-my-dual/)

[Jennifer Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lopez/)

> [Dear God, please reveal to us your sublime beauty, that is everywhere, everywhere, everywhere, so that we will never again feel frightened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/dear-god-please-reveal-to-us-your-sublime-beauty-that-is-everywhere/)

[Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/)

> [If you get asked to play a part that makes you feel frightened, then you have to do it. 'Medea' is the opportunity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/if-you-get-asked-to-play-a-part-that-makes-you-feel-frightened-then/)

[Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/)

> [Death doesn't frighten me, it bothers me. It bothers me for example that someone can be there tomorrow but me I am no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-monicelli/death-doesn-t-frighten-me-it-bothers-me-it-bothers-me-for-example/)

Mario Monicelli

> [Getting old doesn't frighten me. But I've got to take care of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/getting-old-doesn-t-frighten-me-but-i-ve-got-to-take-care-of-myself/)

[Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/)

## More by Richard P. Feynman

> [“Philosophers have said before that one of the fundamental requisites of science is that whenever you set up the same conditions, the same thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/philosophers-have-said-before-that-one-of-the-fundamental-requisites/)

[Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/)

> [My rule is, when you are unhappy, think about it. But when you're happy, don't. Why spoil it? You're probably happy for some ridiculous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/my-rule-is-when-you-are-unhappy-think-about-it-but-when-you-re-happy/)

[Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/)

> [Trying to understand the way nature works involves a most terrible test of human reasoning ability. It involves subtle trickery, beautiful tightropes of logic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/trying-to-understand-the-way-nature-works-involves-a-most-terrible/)

[Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/)

> [Today's brains are yesterday's mashed potatoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/today-s-brains-are-yesterday-s-mashed-potatoes/)

[Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/)

> [Mathematics is a language plus reasoning; it is like a language plus logic. Mathematics is a tool for reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/mathematics-is-a-language-plus-reasoning-it-is-like-a-language-plus/)

[Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/)

> [It is necessary for the very existence of science that minds exist which do not allow that nature must satisfy some preconceived conditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/it-is-necessary-for-the-very-existence-of-science-that-minds-exist/)

[Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/)

> [“There was a Princess Somebody of Denmark sitting at a table with a number of people around her, and I saw an empty chair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/there-was-a-princess-somebody-of-denmark-sitting-at-a-table-with-a/)

[Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/)

> [All the time you're saying to yourself, 'I could do that, but I won't,'--which is just another way of saying that you can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/all-the-time-you-re-saying-to-yourself-i-could-do-that-but-i-won-t/)

[Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/)

> [“There's a big difference between knowing﻿ the name of something and knowing something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/there-s-a-big-difference-between-knowing-the-name-of-something-and/)

[Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/)

> [The fact that you are not sure means that it is possible that there is another way someday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/the-fact-that-you-are-not-sure-means-that-it-is-possible-that-there/)

[Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/)

> [You can always recognize truth by its beauty and simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/you-can-always-recognize-truth-by-its-beauty-and-simplicity/)

[Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/)

> [One cannot understand... the universality of laws of nature, the relationship of things, without an understanding of mathematics. There is no other way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/one-cannot-understand-the-universality-of-laws-of-nature-the/)

[Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/)

> [Mathematics is not just a language. Mathematics is a language plus reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/mathematics-is-not-just-a-language-mathematics-is-a-language-plus/)

[Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/)

> [A poet once said, "The whole universe is in a glass of wine." We will probably never know in what sense he meant that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/a-poet-once-said-the-whole-universe-is-in-a-glass-of-wine-we-will/)

[Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/)

> [I was a very shy character, always feeling uncomfortable because everybody was stronger than I, and always afraid I would look like a sissy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/i-was-a-very-shy-character-always-feeling-uncomfortable-because/)

[Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/)

[Explore all 515 Richard P. Feynman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/)

## More Death quotes

> [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/)

[Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/)

> [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/)

[Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/)

> [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/)

[Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/)

> [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/)

[Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/)

> [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/)

J. Anthony Torino

> [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/)

Alan W. Powers

> [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/)

[Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/)

> [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/)

[Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/)

> [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/)

[Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/)

> [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/)

[Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/)

[Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I don't feel frightened by not knowing things, by being lost in a mysterious universe without any purpose, which is the way it really is, as far as I can tell. Possibly. It doesn't frighten me.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Richard P. Feynman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/i-don-t-feel-frightened-by-not-knowing-things-by-being-lost-in-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Death"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/i-don-t-feel-frightened-by-not-knowing-things-by-being-lost-in-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/richard-p-feynman-495_death_i-don-t-feel-frightened-by-not-knowing-t_766834.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/richard-p-feynman-495_death_i-don-t-feel-frightened-by-not-knowing-t_766834.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/richard-p-feynman-495_death_i-don-t-feel-frightened-by-not-knowing-t_766834.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't feel frightened by not knowing things, by being lost in a mysterious universe without any purpose…” — Richard P. Feynman",
                "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": "Richard P. Feynman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I don't feel frightened by not...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/i-don-t-feel-frightened-by-not-knowing-things-by-being-lost-in-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/i-don-t-feel-frightened-by-not-knowing-things-by-being-lost-in-a/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
