Ghosts Quote by Tana French
““Like, okay. Everyone in history thought they were the ones who finally knew everything. In their naissance, right, they were positive they knew exactly how the universe worked. Til the next set of guys came along and proved they were missing like a hundred important things. and then that set of guys were sure they had it all down, til another set came along and showed them parts they were missing." He glances at Julia, checking if she's laughing at him, which she isn't, and if she's listening, which she is, completely. "So." he says, "it's pretty unlikely, mathematically, that we are living in the one single era that has everything figured out. Which means there's a decent possibility that the reason we can't explain how ghosts and stuff could exist is because we haven't figured it out yet, not because they don't. And it is pretty arrogant of us to think it definitely has to be the other way around.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Likeness, 2014
Human knowledge is provisional; each generation revises what is thought known, leaving room for mystery.
In simple terms: We never fully know everything; new ideas keep emerging.
Key Takeaway
Embrace humility and stay open to unknowns.
Themes
humility
knowledge
uncertainty
Mood
thoughtful
cautious
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- education
- research
- creative problem solving
- personal belief systems
Key Concepts
scientific method
philosophy of science
epistemic humility
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions do you hold that might be challenged?
- How do you respond when faced with the unknown?
A Different Perspective
Overconfidence can hinder learning and cause dismissiveness of alternative explanations.
