--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You see, one thing is, I can live with…" description: "\"“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 knowing than to have answ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/richard-p-feynman-495_certainty_you-see-one-thing-is-i-can-live-with-dou_1952415.jpg" --- # You see, one thing is, I can live with doubt and… ![“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 knowing than to have answers which might be wrong. I have approximate answers and possible beliefs and different degrees of certainty about different things, but I'm not…” quote by Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/richard-p-feynman-495_certainty_you-see-one-thing-is-i-can-live-with-dou_1952415.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/richard-p-feynman-495_certainty_you-see-one-thing-is-i-can-live-with-dou_1952415.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/richard-p-feynman-495_certainty_you-see-one-thing-is-i-can-live-with-dou_1952415.jpg) > ““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 knowing than to have answers which might be wrong. I have approximate answers and possible beliefs and different degrees of certainty about different things, but I'm not absolutely sure of anything and there are many things I don't know anything about, such as whether it means anything to ask why we're here, and what the question might mean. 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 a mysterious universe without having any purpose, which is the way it really is so far as I can tell. 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 as a natural state, finding value in curiosity over certainty, and accepting mystery without fear. **In simple terms:** Uncertainty is okay; curiosity matters more than certainty. Key Takeaway Stay curious, accept not knowing. Themes uncertainty curiosity existentialism Mood thoughtful calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - research - philosophical contemplation - personal growth - decision making Key Concepts epistemology comfort with ambiguity Questions to Reflect On - How does embracing doubt affect your daily choices? - What benefits arise from living without needing absolute answers? A Different Perspective Not all questions need immediate answers; paralysis can occur. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Mysterious universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mysterious-universe/) [Truth Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-seeking/) [Uncertainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncertainty/) ## Related quotes > [“I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. 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Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [The upheaval of our world and the upheaval in consciousness is one and the same. Everything becomes relative and therefore doubtful. And while man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-upheaval-of-our-world-and-the-upheaval-in-consciousness-is-one/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. I think it is much more interesting to live not knowing than to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/i-can-live-with-doubt-and-uncertainty-and-not-knowing-i-think-it-is/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [A time of uncertainty, of not knowing exactly where we're headed, or what kind of choice to make is a Zen moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-shoshanna/a-time-of-uncertainty-of-not-knowing-exactly-where-we-re-headed-or/) [Brenda Shoshanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-shoshanna/) > [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/) > [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-3/) [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/) > [The cliché of the 'Eureka!' moment easily obscures the doubt and uncertainty that are also part of the discovery process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-maslin/the-clich-of-the-eureka-moment-easily-obscures-the-doubt-and/) [Janet Maslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-maslin/) > [“The scientist has a lot of experience with ignorance and doubt and uncertainty, and this experience is of very great importance, I think. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/the-scientist-has-a-lot-of-experience-with-ignorance-and-doubt-and/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [“Maturity means being able to tolerate, on all sorts of planes, uncertainty and not knowing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazel-johns/maturity-means-being-able-to-tolerate-on-all-sorts-of-planes/) Hazel Johns > [The only thing that makes life possible is a permanent, intolerable uncertainty: not knowing what comes next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/the-only-thing-that-makes-life-possible-is-a-permanent-intolerable/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [“Yes. There's really only one question that can be answered, Genry, and we already know the answer…The only thing that makes life possible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/yes-there-s-really-only-one-question-that-can-be-answered-genry-and/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) ## 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 Certainty quotes > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [Sometimes we have the absolute certainty there's something inside us that's so hideous and monstrous that if we ever search it out we won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr/sometimes-we-have-the-absolute-certainty-there-s-something-inside-us/) [Hubert Selby, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr/) > [The past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-past-and-the-future-become-unimportant-there-is-only-that-moment/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [In the mental disturbance and effort of writing, what sustains you is the certainty that on every page there is something left unsaid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/in-the-mental-disturbance-and-effort-of-writing-what-sustains-you-is/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Of course I doubt. I do not practice a certainty. I practice a faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/of-course-i-doubt-i-do-not-practice-a-certainty-i-practice-a-faith/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [The world is a wonderfully weird place, consensual reality is significantly flawed, no institution can be trusted, certainty is a mirage, security a delusion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-world-is-a-wonderfully-weird-place-consensual-reality-is/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As a businessman, I know that businesses need certainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-foster/as-a-businessman-i-know-that-businesses-need-certainty/) [Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/) > [It is suggested that in domestic violence at least the presence or absence of a firearm, or of any other type of weapon, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-greenwood/it-is-suggested-that-in-domestic-violence-at-least-the-presence-or/) [Colin Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-greenwood/) > [Every single person who is a member of our party deserves to have certainty. They deserve to know that my attention and focus is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/every-single-person-who-is-a-member-of-our-party-deserves-to-have/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [The significance and volume of repairs that are needed across the country demand that we give state and local governments the long-term certainty they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-graves/the-significance-and-volume-of-repairs-that-are-needed-across-the/) [Sam Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-graves/) > [“Death is the one great certainty in life. That’s what my dad used to say. Nothing else is certain. Not love. Not happiness. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-gray/death-is-the-one-great-certainty-in-life-that-s-what-my-dad-used-to/) [Mila Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-gray/) > [ \[I\]f in other sciences we should arrive at certainty without doubt and truth without error, it behooves us to place the foundations of knowledge… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/i-f-in-other-sciences-we-should-arrive-at-certainty-without-doubt-and/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [Do not lose hope; St. Joseph also experienced moments of difficulty, but he never lost faith and was able to overcome them, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/do-not-lose-hope-st-joseph-also-experienced-moments-of-difficulty-but/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [Finding someone that trusted my vision helped me find certainty in who I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/finding-someone-that-trusted-my-vision-helped-me-find-certainty-in/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) [Browse all 1,776 Certainty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“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 knowing than to have answers which might be wrong. 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