--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was the doubt that knocked me over…" description: "\"“It was the doubt that knocked me over, Mina: the terrible doubt as to the reality of the whole thing. I felt impotent and in the dark. I did not know ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/syrie-james-18125_doubt_it-was-the-doubt-that-knocked-me-over-mi_2902839.jpg" --- # It was the doubt that knocked me over, Mina: the terrible… ![“It was the doubt that knocked me over, Mina: the terrible doubt as to the reality of the whole thing. I felt impotent and in the dark. I did not know who or what to trust, not even the evidence of my own senses. So I tried to put it behind me and throw myself into my work, into what had hitherto…” quote by Syrie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/syrie-james-18125_doubt_it-was-the-doubt-that-knocked-me-over-mi_2902839.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/syrie-james-18125_doubt_it-was-the-doubt-that-knocked-me-over-mi_2902839.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/syrie-james-18125_doubt_it-was-the-doubt-that-knocked-me-over-mi_2902839.jpg) > ““It was the doubt that knocked me over, Mina: the terrible doubt as to the reality of the whole thing. I felt impotent and in the dark. I did not know who or what to trust, not even the evidence of my own senses. So I tried to put it behind me and throw myself into my work, into what had hitherto been the groove of my life. But the groove no longer availed me, for I now mistrusted myself.”” [Syrie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syrie-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intense doubt erodes trust in self and perception, leading to paralysis; rebuilding confidence involves confronting uncertainty and re‑engaging with purposeful work. **In simple terms:** Doubt can paralyze you. Key Takeaway Re‑engage with purpose. Themes doubt trust purpose self‑confidence Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career change - creative projects - therapy - mindfulness practice Key Concepts psychology existential crisis resilience Questions to Reflect On - What evidence can you gather to trust yourself? - How can you balance skepticism with action? A Different Perspective Self‑doubt may persist despite effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) ## Related quotes > [“A doubt that in reality, 'I am not this' has arisen regarding the knowledge of 'Who am I'. From the moment a doubt sets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/a-doubt-that-in-reality-i-am-not-this-has-arisen-regarding-the/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Whatever was about, whoever I had seen, and heard rocking, and who had passed me by just now, whoever had opened the locked door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-hill/whatever-was-about-whoever-i-had-seen-and-heard-rocking-and-who-had/) [Susan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-hill/) > [This harmony that human intelligence believes it discovers in nature - does it exist apart from that intelligence? No, without doubt, a reality completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-poincare/this-harmony-that-human-intelligence-believes-it-discovers-in-nature/) [Henri Poincare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-poincare/) > [Doubt of the reality of love ends by making us doubt everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/doubt-of-the-reality-of-love-ends-by-making-us-doubt-everything/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [“The human brain has the unique ability to doubt the reality presented to itself. 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We did not accept it. we thought we were superior people and other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/but-then-we-did-not-think-of-ourselves-as-poor-we-did-not-accept-it/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-truth-is-that-all-men-having-power-ought-to-be-mistrusted/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Take from a man his reputation for probity, and the more shrewd and clever he is, the more hated and mistrusted he becomes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/take-from-a-man-his-reputation-for-probity-and-the-more-shrewd-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Welfare is hated by those who administer it, mistrusted by those who pay for it and held in contempt by those who receive it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-c-goldmark-jr/welfare-is-hated-by-those-who-administer-it-mistrusted-by-those-who/) Peter C Goldmark Jr > [The commercial class has always mistrusted verbal brilliancy and wit, deeming such qualities, perhaps with some justice, frivolous and unprofitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-commercial-class-has-always-mistrusted-verbal-brilliancy-and-wit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Flatterers should be mistrusted, especially when they praise the dead. To seek a place in society is self-serving, but to seek one in history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bauvard/flatterers-should-be-mistrusted-especially-when-they-praise-the-dead/) [Bauvard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bauvard/) > [Our culture has long mistrusted the body. It's been seen as a confusing blend of God's handiwork and the devil's playground. It is, rather,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-moran/our-culture-has-long-mistrusted-the-body-it-s-been-seen-as-a/) [Victoria Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-moran/) ## More by Syrie James > [“A line from The Picture of Dorian Gray kept running through my head- a line which, I thought, might have been written by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syrie-james/a-line-from-the-picture-of-dorian-gray-kept-running-through-my-head-a/) [Syrie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syrie-james/) > [“Jane!" cried he softly, moving closer. "All these long months that we have been apart, even believing it to be impossible, it is of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syrie-james/jane-cried-he-softly-moving-closer-all-these-long-months-that-we-have/) [Syrie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syrie-james/) > [“I believe there is a kind of happiness to be found in every thing in life, in all that is good and pleasing, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syrie-james/i-believe-there-is-a-kind-of-happiness-to-be-found-in-every-thing-in/) [Syrie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syrie-james/) > [“I was too stunned to think or move. I knew he desired my blood. And yet I did not want to hinder him. With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syrie-james/i-was-too-stunned-to-think-or-move-i-knew-he-desired-my-blood-and-yet/) [Syrie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syrie-james/) > [“What are you afraid of?" he said tenderly. "That I will take advantage of your virtue? 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The moment one begins to doubt the knowledge that, 'I am Chandubhai,' misery arises. Once one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-is-doubt-shanka-there-is-misery-the-moment-one-begins-to/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Vision motivates, sustains and dispels doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-young/vision-motivates-sustains-and-dispels-doubt/) [Thomas Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-young/) > [One may not doubt that, somehow Good Shall come of Water and of Mud; And sure, the reverent eye must see A purpose in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-brooke/one-may-not-doubt-that-somehow-good-shall-come-of-water-and-of-mud/) [Rupert Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-brooke/) > [Let smiles overshadow sadness. Let faith make you believe. Let confidence wash away doubts. Let love complete your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/let-smiles-overshadow-sadness-let-faith-make-you-believe-let/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [When in doubt, suggest that a subcommittee be appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapman/when-in-doubt-suggest-that-a-subcommittee-be-appointed/) Harry Chapman > [“Those who contemplate never escape the doubt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/those-who-contemplate-never-escape-the-doubt/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) [Browse all 9,582 Doubt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It was the doubt that knocked me over, Mina: the terrible doubt as to the reality of the whole thing. I felt impotent and in the dark. I did not know who or what to trust, not even the evidence of my own senses. 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