Certainty Quote by Samuel Johnson
“He is no wise man who will quit a certainty for an uncertainty.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Rambler” No. 2, 1750
One should not abandon a certain, reliable belief for an uncertain, unproven one.
In simple terms: Don’t trade certainty for doubt.
Key Takeaway
Value reliable knowledge over speculation.
Themes
wisdom
certainty
skepticism
decision‑making
Mood
cautious
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
advisory
When to use this quote
- financial investments
- career choices
- medical treatments
- political policies
Key Concepts
epistemology
risk assessment
philosophical prudence
Questions to Reflect On
- When is it wise to embrace uncertainty?
- How do you balance certainty with openness?
A Different Perspective
Over‑reliance on certainty can stifle innovation.
![“[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)