--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the evidence is strong enough, you are…" description: "\"“If the evidence is strong enough, you are convinced that there is no other reasonable answer. Your resulting sense of certainty feels like the only lo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/robert-burton-m-d-103583_certainty_if-the-evidence-is-strong-enough-you-are_340896.jpg" --- # If the evidence is strong enough, you are convinced that… ![“If the evidence is strong enough, you are convinced that there is no other reasonable answer. Your resulting sense of certainty feels like the only logical and justifiable conclusion to a conscious and deliberate line of reasoning. But modern biology is pointing in a different direction.” quote by Robert Burton M.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/robert-burton-m-d-103583_certainty_if-the-evidence-is-strong-enough-you-are_340896.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/robert-burton-m-d-103583_certainty_if-the-evidence-is-strong-enough-you-are_340896.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/robert-burton-m-d-103583_certainty_if-the-evidence-is-strong-enough-you-are_340896.jpg) > ““If the evidence is strong enough, you are convinced that there is no other reasonable answer. Your resulting sense of certainty feels like the only logical and justifiable conclusion to a conscious and deliberate line of reasoning. But modern biology is pointing in a different direction.”” Robert Burton M.D ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Strong evidence can create a false sense of certainty, yet biology may contradict it. **In simple terms:** Confidence can be misleading when evidence is contested. Key Takeaway Remain open to new scientific findings. Themes science certainty evidence biology critical thinking Mood analytical cautious inquisitive Type Certainty:1 Strong enough:1 Sense Certainty:1 Evidence Strong:1 Certainty Feels:1 Resulting Sense:0 When to use this quote - academic publishing - peer review - science policy - public health messaging - education curricula Key Concepts philosophy of science epistemology research methodology Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance confidence with humility? - What role does emerging biology play in reshaping beliefs? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can hinder progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) [Strong enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-enough/) ## Related quotes > [Religion gives you a sense of certainty. It makes you feel that you have the right answers to really big questions and that youve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-heckman/religion-gives-you-a-sense-of-certainty-it-makes-you-feel-that-you/) [James Heckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-heckman/) > [We say, then, to anyone who is under trial, give Him time to steep the soul in His eternal truth. Go into the open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-say-then-to-anyone-who-is-under-trial-give-him-time-to-steep-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you develop the absolute sense of certainty that powerful beliefs provide, then you can get yourself to accomplish virtually anything, including those things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-develop-the-absolute-sense-of-certainty-that-powerful-beliefs/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some circumstantial evidence is very strong, as when you find a trout in the milk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/some-circumstantial-evidence-is-very-strong-as-when-you-find-a-trout/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Insubordination may only be the evidence of a strong mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/insubordination-may-only-be-the-evidence-of-a-strong-mind/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [I am a great believer in the simplicity of things and as you probably know I am inclined to hang on to broad &…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/i-am-a-great-believer-in-the-simplicity-of-things-and-as-you-probably/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [Because of its concrete content, sense-certainty immediately appears as the richest kind of knowledge, indeed a knowledge of infinite wealth for which no bounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/because-of-its-concrete-content-sense-certainty-immediately-appears/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [I can predict with some sense of certainty how life will feel in a month. I can with the same logic remember with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mangan/i-can-predict-with-some-sense-of-certainty-how-life-will-feel-in-a/) [Dan Mangan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mangan/) > [I imagine having that sixth sense, the certainty that what I'm looking for is within reach, even if it's still hidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-imagine-having-that-sixth-sense-the-certainty-that-what-i-m-looking/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Being single doesn't mean you are weak it means you are strong enough to wait for what you deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-single-doesn-t-mean-you-are-weak-it-means-you-are-strong-enough/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Long distance relationship is only for those people who are strong enough and patient to wait for someone they really want to be with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharlene05/long-distance-relationship-is-only-for-those-people-who-are-strong/) Sharlene05 > [In the olden days in England, you could be hung for stealing a sheep or a loaf of bread. However, if a sheep stole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-harding/in-the-olden-days-in-england-you-could-be-hung-for-stealing-a-sheep/) [Mike Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-harding/) > [“AUSTRALIA, LIKE THE UNITED STATES, experienced a different path to inclusive institutions than the one taken by England. The same revolutions that shook England…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/australia-like-the-united-states-experienced-a-different-path-to/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“I’m not strong enough for this,” he whispered in her ear—like he didn’t want anyone to hear that coming out of his mouth. Ever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/i-m-not-strong-enough-for-this-he-whispered-in-her-ear-like-he-didn-t/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Life will knock you down & it's tough, but you are strong enough. Get back up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-will-knock-you-down-it-s-tough-but-you-are-strong-enough-get/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Robert Burton M.D > [“We see only what we know.   —Goethe”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burton-m-d/we-see-only-what-we-know-goethe/) Robert Burton M.D Explore all 2 Robert Burton M.D quotes ## 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": "“If the evidence is strong enough, you are convinced that there is no other reasonable answer. Your resulting sense of certainty feels like the only logical and justifiable conclusion to a conscious and deliberate line of reasoning. 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