--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great uncertainty I found in…" description: "\"“The great uncertainty I found in metaphysical reasonings disgusted me, and I quitted that kind of reading and study for others more satisfactory.” Wha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/walter-isaacson-384_doubt_the-great-uncertainty-i-found-in-metaphy_3102134.png" --- # The great uncertainty I found in metaphysical reasonings… ![“The great uncertainty I found in metaphysical reasonings disgusted me, and I quitted that kind of reading and study for others more satisfactory.” What” quote by Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/walter-isaacson-384_doubt_the-great-uncertainty-i-found-in-metaphy_3102134.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/walter-isaacson-384_doubt_the-great-uncertainty-i-found-in-metaphy_3102134.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/walter-isaacson-384_doubt_the-great-uncertainty-i-found-in-metaphy_3102134.png) > ““The great uncertainty I found in metaphysical reasonings disgusted me, and I quitted that kind of reading and study for others more satisfactory.” What”” [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author expresses disgust with abstract metaphysical speculation and prefers practical, satisfying pursuits. **In simple terms:** Dislikes abstract reasoning, prefers practical study. Key Takeaway Seek concrete, meaningful work. Themes philosophy practicality disgust Mood frustrated reflective Type critical personal When to use this quote - academic research - personal development - career choices Key Concepts metaphysics intellectual honesty Questions to Reflect On - What concrete pursuits fulfill you? - How do you balance abstract and practical thinking? A Different Perspective Abstract thought can be valuable for deep insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Great Uncertainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-uncertainty-1195178/) [Metaphysical Reasonings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphysical-reasonings-4453782/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Reasonings Disgusted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasonings-disgusted-5380524/) [Uncertainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncertainty/) [Uncertainty Metaphysical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncertainty-metaphysical-5380523/) ## Related quotes > [“His elucidation was so minute and clear, and his metaphysical reasonings so acute and captivating, that his opinion was universally accepted as an historical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/his-elucidation-was-so-minute-and-clear-and-his-metaphysical/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [Small business owners are experiencing great uncertainty because of the possibility of tax increases, the inconsistent flow of credit, an outrageous national debt, high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-graves/small-business-owners-are-experiencing-great-uncertainty-because-of/) [Sam Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-graves/) > [The great uncertainty of all data in war is because all action, to a certain extent, planned in a mere twilight - like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-great-uncertainty-of-all-data-in-war-is-because-all-action-to-a/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [“Most people are strongly wired to be intolerant of uncertainty. We experience it as pain, fear, anxiety, and doubt. When faced with the need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/most-people-are-strongly-wired-to-be-intolerant-of-uncertainty-we/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“I step out of my second life the same way I stepped out of my first, holding too few things and with great uncertainty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-step-out-of-my-second-life-the-same-way-i-stepped-out-of-my-first/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [Lastly, the great uncertainty of all data in War is a peculiar difficulty, because all action must, to a certain extent, be planned in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/lastly-the-great-uncertainty-of-all-data-in-war-is-a-peculiar/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [We are living in times of great uncertainty. Likely no more so than in previous times but the sense of ambiguity may be more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-baldoni/we-are-living-in-times-of-great-uncertainty-likely-no-more-so-than-in/) [John Baldoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-baldoni/) > [“There exists a great uncertainty that comes with life. It is like a tree, its roots formed below the surface, its body penetrating a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-exists-a-great-uncertainty-that-comes-with-life-it-is-like-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In moments of great uncertainty on my travels, I have always felt that something is protecting me, that i will come to no harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahir-shah/in-moments-of-great-uncertainty-on-my-travels-i-have-always-felt-that/) [Tahir Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahir-shah/) > [Lastly, the great uncertainty of all data in War is a peculiar difficulty, because all action must, to a certain extent, be planned in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-von-clausewitz/lastly-the-great-uncertainty-of-all-data-in-war-is-a-peculiar-2/) [Karl Von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-von-clausewitz/) > [“Confined on the ship, from which there is no escape, the madman is delivered to the river with its thousand arms, the sea with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/confined-on-the-ship-from-which-there-is-no-escape-the-madman-is/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [“Embrace uncertainty,” the ads read.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/embrace-uncertainty-the-ads-read/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [Uncertainty will always be part of the taking charge process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/uncertainty-will-always-be-part-of-the-taking-charge-process/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Uncertainty that comes from knowledge (knowing what you don't know) is different from uncertainty coming from ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/uncertainty-that-comes-from-knowledge-knowing-what-you-don-t-know-is/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [We don't always know the details of our future. We do not know what lies ahead. We live in a time of uncertainty. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-don-t-always-know-the-details-of-our-future-we-do-not-know-what/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) ## More by Walter Isaacson > [“he never finished any of the works he began because, so sublime was his idea of art, he saw faults even in the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/he-never-finished-any-of-the-works-he-began-because-so-sublime-was/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [He had the attitude that he could do anything, and therefore so can you. He put his life in my hands. So that made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/he-had-the-attitude-that-he-could-do-anything-and-therefore-so-can/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [But the point is to get a whole new generation of people and people in general more re-engaged in news, and this has happened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/but-the-point-is-to-get-a-whole-new-generation-of-people-and-people/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“There was never a good knife made of bad steel ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/there-was-never-a-good-knife-made-of-bad-steel/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“Jobs's intensity was also evident in his ability to focus. He would set priorities, aim his laser attention on them, and filter out distractions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/jobs-s-intensity-was-also-evident-in-his-ability-to-focus-he-would/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“Atop the brochure McKenna put a maxim, often attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, that would become the defining precept of Jobs’s design philosophy: “Simplicity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/atop-the-brochure-mckenna-put-a-maxim-often-attributed-to-leonardo-da/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“The company began attracting influential new investors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/the-company-began-attracting-influential-new-investors/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“You have to remain critically vigilant.” Question every premise, challenge conventional wisdom, and never accept the truth of something merely because everyone else views…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/you-have-to-remain-critically-vigilant-question-every-premise/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“in 1996, bought NeXT, bringing Jobs back. BILL ATKINSON. Early Apple employee, developed graphics for the Macintosh. CHRISANN BRENNAN. Jobs’s girlfriend at Homestead High,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/in-1996-bought-next-bringing-jobs-back-bill-atkinson-early-apple/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“The last time there was this much excitement about a tablet, it had some commandments written on it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/the-last-time-there-was-this-much-excitement-about-a-tablet-it-had/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“If you want to live your life in a creative way, as an artist, you have to not look back too much. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/if-you-want-to-live-your-life-in-a-creative-way-as-an-artist-you-have/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“There was a key lesson for innovation: Understand which industries are symbiotic so that you can capitalize on how they will spur each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/there-was-a-key-lesson-for-innovation-understand-which-industries-are/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“CEO Gil Amelio stumbled. Ellison may have been baffled when Jobs insisted that he was not motivated by money, but it was partly true.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/ceo-gil-amelio-stumbled-ellison-may-have-been-baffled-when-jobs/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“Once a year Jobs took his most valuable employees on a retreat, which he called " The Top 100." They were picked based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/once-a-year-jobs-took-his-most-valuable-employees-on-a-retreat-which/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“An object will display the greatest difference of light and shade when it is seen in the strongest light. . . . But this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/an-object-will-display-the-greatest-difference-of-light-and-shade/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) [Explore all 593 Walter Isaacson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) ## More Doubt quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "“The great uncertainty I found in metaphysical reasonings disgusted me, and I quitted that kind of reading and study for others more satisfactory.” What”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter Isaacson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/the-great-uncertainty-i-found-in-metaphysical-reasonings-disgusted-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doubt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/the-great-uncertainty-i-found-in-metaphysical-reasonings-disgusted-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/walter-isaacson-384_doubt_the-great-uncertainty-i-found-in-metaphy_3102134.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/walter-isaacson-384_doubt_the-great-uncertainty-i-found-in-metaphy_3102134.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/walter-isaacson-384_doubt_the-great-uncertainty-i-found-in-metaphy_3102134.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The great uncertainty I found in metaphysical reasonings disgusted me, and I quitted that kind of reading…” — Walter Isaacson", "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": "Walter Isaacson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The great uncertainty I found in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/the-great-uncertainty-i-found-in-metaphysical-reasonings-disgusted-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/the-great-uncertainty-i-found-in-metaphysical-reasonings-disgusted-me/#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 } } ] } ```