Certainty Quote by Voltaire
“Doubt is not a pleasant condition but certainty is an absurd one.”
About This Quote
Source Philosophical essay: "Philosophical Dictionary", 1764
The quote claims doubt is uncomfortable, while certainty is irrational.
In simple terms: Doubt feels bad; certainty is absurd.
Key Takeaway
Embrace doubt, question certainty.
Themes
philosophy
epistemology
critical thinking
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- personal decision‑making
- scientific research
- ethical dilemmas
Key Concepts
uncertainty
rationality
intellectual humility
Questions to Reflect On
- When is certainty useful?
- How can we balance doubt with decisive action?
A Different Perspective
It may undervalue confidence needed for action.
![“[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)