--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What makes you so certain?\" \"But I am not…" description: "\"What makes you so certain?\" \"But I am not certain,\" I told him. \"Nothing is certain. You want certainty?\" \"Yes!\" \"Then you want death.\" — Stephen R. La..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/stephen-r-lawhead-3949_certain_what-makes-you-so-certain-but-i-am-not-c_1192118.png" --- # What makes you so certain?" "But I am not certain," I told… ![“What makes you so certain?" "But I am not certain," I told him. "Nothing is certain. You want certainty?" "Yes!" "Then you want death.” quote by Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/stephen-r-lawhead-3949_certain_what-makes-you-so-certain-but-i-am-not-c_1192118.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/stephen-r-lawhead-3949_certain_what-makes-you-so-certain-but-i-am-not-c_1192118.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/stephen-r-lawhead-3949_certain_what-makes-you-so-certain-but-i-am-not-c_1192118.png) > “What makes you so certain?" "But I am not certain," I told him. "Nothing is certain. You want certainty?" "Yes!" "Then you want death.” [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Certainty is an illusion; seeking it can lead to self‑destruction, while embracing uncertainty is essential. **In simple terms:** Seeking certainty can be deadly. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty. Themes philosophy existence risk knowledge Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal decisions - scientific research - spiritual practice - daily life Key Concepts epistemology mortality psychology Questions to Reflect On - What truths are you willing to accept without certainty? - How does uncertainty shape your choices? A Different Perspective Absolute certainty is unattainable and may cause harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) [Certainty Yes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty-yes-1937525/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Makes Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes-certain-3541870/) [Told Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/told-certain-3395212/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-certainty-855237/) ## Related quotes > [“If you do not know what you want, it is a certainty you will never get it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-helen-elza/if-you-do-not-know-what-you-want-it-is-a-certainty-you-will-never-get/) [J. Helen Elza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-helen-elza/) > [I can't just put myself out on a limb anymore, I don't want to take risks anymore, I want certainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-t-just-put-myself-out-on-a-limb-anymore-i-don-t-want-to-take/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The person who does not believe in miracles surely makes it certain that he or she will never take part in one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/the-person-who-does-not-believe-in-miracles-surely-makes-it-certain/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [One must verify or expel his doubts, and convert them into the certainty of Yes or NO.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/one-must-verify-or-expel-his-doubts-and-convert-them-into-the/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [I've always been sure of my vision, but I've been in meetings where men have been talking about me like I'm not there... I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mabel/i-ve-always-been-sure-of-my-vision-but-i-ve-been-in-meetings-where/) [Mabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mabel/) > [We've been told there's a certain way to live ... that this is living ... and we ... we never really questioned it. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wykes/we-ve-been-told-there-s-a-certain-way-to-live-that-this-is-living-and/) [WALTER WYKES](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wykes/) > [“I think we can do it." "But you don't know for sure," he said. "No." "Geez, Anita." "Don't get rattled on me. We can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-think-we-can-do-it-but-you-don-t-know-for-sure-he-said-no-geez/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“In this world, what is here is not necessarily here, and what is now may not really be now: place and time are malleable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amir-aczel/in-this-world-what-is-here-is-not-necessarily-here-and-what-is-now/) [Amir Aczel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amir-aczel/) > [“Though what could anyone really say these days with one hundred percent certainty?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-risk-hallberg/though-what-could-anyone-really-say-these-days-with-one-hundred/) [Garth Risk Hallberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-risk-hallberg/) > [Go for broke. Always try and do too much. Dispense with safety nets. Take a deep breath before you begin talking. Aim for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/go-for-broke-always-try-and-do-too-much-dispense-with-safety-nets/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-allen-paulos/uncertainty-is-the-only-certainty-there-is-and-knowing-how-to-live/) [John Allen Paulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-allen-paulos/) > [Criticism, though dignified from the earliest ages by the labours of men eminent for knowledge and sagacity, has not yet attained the certainty and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/criticism-though-dignified-from-the-earliest-ages-by-the-labours-of/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [ \[I\]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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Stephen R. Lawhead > [“Your faith is admirable, Pelleas. But I know nothing of sorcery. As it is, I have not been able to discover how the spell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/your-faith-is-admirable-pelleas-but-i-know-nothing-of-sorcery-as-it/) [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) > [“Great Light, the Enemy's power is so fragile! The devils can use only what we ourselves will give them. Do you see? Give them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/great-light-the-enemy-s-power-is-so-fragile-the-devils-can-use-only/) [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) > [Arthur’s fingers tighten on the silver-braided hilt: see how naturally it fits his hand! He pulls. The Sword of Britain slides from its stone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/arthur-s-fingers-tighten-on-the-silver-braided-hilt-see-how-naturally/) [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) > [Words are worth little when the heart refuses to hear. Therefore, judge us by our works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/words-are-worth-little-when-the-heart-refuses-to-hear-therefore-judge/) [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) > [We are closest to Christ when sharing the world’s misery. Think you Jesus came to remove our pains? Wherever did you get that notion?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/we-are-closest-to-christ-when-sharing-the-world-s-misery-think-you/) [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) > [“I took him by the arm to steady him. He opened his eyes slowly, the bright golden gleam now darkened with pain and sorrow.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/i-took-him-by-the-arm-to-steady-him-he-opened-his-eyes-slowly-the/) [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) > [How is a man fortunate to live in the darkness, brother?" "Why do you wonder?" asked Blaise. "For only he who has lived in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/how-is-a-man-fortunate-to-live-in-the-darkness-brother-why-do-you/) [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) > [“And the Wise Emrys said that Arthur would yet come again to lead his own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/and-the-wise-emrys-said-that-arthur-would-yet-come-again-to-lead-his/) [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) > [“I raised my spear to heaven. 'For God and Britain!' I cried, and my cry was answered in kind. And then I was racing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/i-raised-my-spear-to-heaven-for-god-and-britain-i-cried-and-my-cry/) [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) > [“We are not required to defeat evil, but only to stand against it. That is enough - the outcome remains with God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/we-are-not-required-to-defeat-evil-but-only-to-stand-against-it-that/) [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) > [“Myrddin', I said gently, 'what is she to you?' His head whipped round and he glared at me. His mouth was a grimace of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/myrddin-i-said-gently-what-is-she-to-you-his-head-whipped-round-and/) [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) > [“Oh, but once my memories had pulsed with the blood-heat of life. In desperation, I forced myself to recall that once, I had walked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/oh-but-once-my-memories-had-pulsed-with-the-blood-heat-of-life-in/) [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) > [Contrary to what many may think, immortality is not a fairy tale invented to compensate for an unhappy life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/contrary-to-what-many-may-think-immortality-is-not-a-fairy-tale/) [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) > [Apart from pleasure, beauty also kindles imagination, hope and encouragement. If beauty ceased to exist, we would, in a very real sense, cease to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/apart-from-pleasure-beauty-also-kindles-imagination-hope-and/) [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) > [I tell you the truth, a man may not make himself king; only the blessing of him who holds the kingship can elevate a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/i-tell-you-the-truth-a-man-may-not-make-himself-king-only-the/) [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) [Explore all 109 Stephen R. Lawhead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) ## More Certain quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [People don't always realize that a record is forever. It'll always be there under your name. You've got to be certain that it's right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/people-don-t-always-realize-that-a-record-is-forever-it-ll-always-be/) [Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) [Riffat Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riffat-hassan/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [Why do we love certain homes, and why do they seem to love us? It is the warmth of our individual hearts reflected in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-robsjohn-gibbings/why-do-we-love-certain-homes-and-why-do-they-seem-to-love-us-it-is/) [T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-h-robsjohn-gibbings/) > [Human life consists of doing certain things ... to take part in the life of the community; to be able to talk about subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/human-life-consists-of-doing-certain-things-to-take-part-in-the-life/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [We've all seen talented young players who get to a certain level but there comes a point where that talent will only take you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-gatland/we-ve-all-seen-talented-young-players-who-get-to-a-certain-level-but/) [Warren Gatland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-gatland/) > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [I think that at a certain age, say fifteen or sixteen, poetry is like masturbation. But later in life good poets burn their early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/i-think-that-at-a-certain-age-say-fifteen-or-sixteen-poetry-is-like/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [If a person does not listen to the demands of their own spiritual and heart life and insists on a certain program, you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/if-a-person-does-not-listen-to-the-demands-of-their-own-spiritual-and/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) [Browse all 13,673 Certain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What makes you so certain?\" \"But I am not certain,\" I told him. \"Nothing is certain. You want certainty?\" \"Yes!\" \"Then you want death.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen R. Lawhead" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/what-makes-you-so-certain-but-i-am-not-certain-i-told-him-nothing-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Certain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/what-makes-you-so-certain-but-i-am-not-certain-i-told-him-nothing-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/stephen-r-lawhead-3949_certain_what-makes-you-so-certain-but-i-am-not-c_1192118.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/stephen-r-lawhead-3949_certain_what-makes-you-so-certain-but-i-am-not-c_1192118.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/stephen-r-lawhead-3949_certain_what-makes-you-so-certain-but-i-am-not-c_1192118.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What makes you so certain?\" \"But I am not certain,\" I told him. \"Nothing is certain. You want certainty?\"…” — Stephen R. Lawhead", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Stephen R. Lawhead", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What makes you so certain?\" \"But...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/what-makes-you-so-certain-but-i-am-not-certain-i-told-him-nothing-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/what-makes-you-so-certain-but-i-am-not-certain-i-told-him-nothing-is/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```