Certainty Quote by Robert Rubin
“First, the only certainty is that there is no certainty. Second, every decision, as a consequence, is a matter of weighing probabilities. Third, despite uncertainty we must decide and we must act. And lastly, we need to judge decisions not only on the results, but on how they were made.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Uncertainty, Robert Rubin, 2008
Life is inherently uncertain; decisions must be made by evaluating odds and judged by process, not just outcomes.
In simple terms: Uncertainty demands action and fair evaluation of choices.
Key Takeaway
Act despite uncertainty, assess decisions by their reasoning.
Themes
uncertainty
decision-making
probability
ethics
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
practical
When to use this quote
- business strategy
- personal life choices
- policy development
- crisis management
Key Concepts
risk assessment
probabilistic reasoning
process ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance data with intuition?
- What criteria define a good decision process?
A Different Perspective
Over‑reliance on probability can ignore qualitative factors.
![“[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 in mathematics, in so far as disposed through it we are able to reach certainty in other sciences and truth by the exclusion of error.” quote by Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d13/roger-bacon-15067_able_i-f-in-other-sciences-we-should-arrive-a_24209.jpg)