--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think it's much more interesting to…" description: "\"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 beliefs, and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a2/richard-p-feynman-495_acceptance_i-think-it-s-much-more-interesting-to-li_2298911.png" --- # I think it's much more interesting to live not knowing… ![“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 beliefs, and different degrees of uncertainty about different things, but I am not absolutely sure of anything. There are many things I don't know anything…” quote by Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a2/richard-p-feynman-495_acceptance_i-think-it-s-much-more-interesting-to-li_2298911.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a2/richard-p-feynman-495_acceptance_i-think-it-s-much-more-interesting-to-li_2298911.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a2/richard-p-feynman-495_acceptance_i-think-it-s-much-more-interesting-to-li_2298911.png) > “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 beliefs, and different degrees of uncertainty about different things, but I am not absolutely sure of anything. There are many things I don't know anything about, such as whether it means anything to ask "Why are we here?" I might think about it a little bit, and if I can't figure it out then I go on to something else. But I don't have to know an answer. I don't feel frightened by not knowing things, by being lost in the mysterious universe without having any purpose - which is the way it really is, as far as I can tell.” [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 is healthier than seeking false certainty; curiosity thrives without needing definitive answers. **In simple terms:** Being comfortable with not knowing fuels exploration. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty, keep questioning. Themes curiosity uncertainty philosophy Mood thoughtful calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - research - personal growth - spiritual contemplation - daily decision‑making Key Concepts epistemology existentialism open‑mindedness Questions to Reflect On - How does uncertainty affect your creativity? - What benefits arise from accepting unknowns? A Different Perspective Not knowing can cause anxiety for some people. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Different things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-things/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Frightened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frightened/) [Frightened Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frightened-knowing-2216435/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Knowing Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-answers-385074/) [Knowing things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-things/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Mysterious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mysterious/) [Mysterious universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mysterious-universe/) [Not knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-knowing/) [Possible Beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible-beliefs-2273643/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Uncertainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncertainty/) [Uncertainty and doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncertainty-and-doubt/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [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 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 don't feel frightened by not knowing things, by being lost in a mysterious universe without any purpose, which is the way it really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/i-don-t-feel-frightened-by-not-knowing-things-by-being-lost-in-a/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [We have found it of paramount importance that in order to progress, we must recognize our ignorance and leave room for doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/we-have-found-it-of-paramount-importance-that-in-order-to-progress-we/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [You see, one thing is, I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. I have approximate answers and possible beliefs and different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/you-see-one-thing-is-i-can-live-with-doubt-and-uncertainty-and-not/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [When a scientist doesn't know the answer to a problem, he is ignorant. When he has a hunch as to what the result is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/when-a-scientist-doesn-t-know-the-answer-to-a-problem-he-is-ignorant/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [When a scientist doesn't know the answer to a problem, he is ignorant. When he has a hunch as to what the result is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/when-a-scientist-doesn-t-know-the-answer-to-a-problem-he-is-ignorant-2/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Celebrate what is possible. Your beliefs will create your reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/celebrate-what-is-possible-your-beliefs-will-create-your-reality/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [“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 think it's much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/i-think-it-s-much-more-interesting-to-live-not-knowing-than-to-have-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/) > [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/) > [An educated man must have a "curiosity in exploring the unfamiliar and unexpected, an open-mindedness in entertaining opposing points of view, tolerance for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/an-educated-man-must-have-a-curiosity-in-exploring-the-unfamiliar-and/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [A hero is also someone who, in their day to day interactions with the world, despite all the pain, uncertainty and doubt that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/a-hero-is-also-someone-who-in-their-day-to-day-interactions-with-the/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) ## 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 Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Acceptance of death when it arrives is one thing, but to allow it to upstage the joys of living is ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-blythe/acceptance-of-death-when-it-arrives-is-one-thing-but-to-allow-it-to/) [Ronald Blythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-blythe/) > [“Loving someone who does not love you back hurts, alot, i know. It is liking seeing these pair of shoes at the retail store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/loving-someone-who-does-not-love-you-back-hurts-alot-i-know-it-is/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/) [Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sense-that-in-this-universe-we-are-treated-as-strangers-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,960 Acceptance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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 beliefs, and different degrees of uncertainty about different things, but I am not absolutely sure of anything. 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