Certitude Quote by William James
“Objective evidence and certitude are doubtless very fine ideals to play with, but where on this moonlit and dream-visited planet are they found?”
About This Quote
Source Lecture: William James on Epistemology, 1902
He questions where objective evidence exists on a dream‑filled world.
In simple terms: Finding objective truth in a dream‑like world is hard.
Key Takeaway
Seek evidence while acknowledging uncertainty.
Themes
knowledge
certainty
epistemology
Mood
thoughtful
skeptical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- scientific research
- daily decision making
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
philosophy
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you handle uncertainty?
- What evidence matters most to you?
A Different Perspective
Absolute certainty may be unattainable.
![“We [tend to] have more faith in what we imitate than in what we originate. We [often feel that we] cannot derive a sense of absolute certitude from anything which has its root in us. The most poignant sense of insecurity comes from standing alone; we are not alone when we imitate.” quote by Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f9a/bruce-lee-430_absolutes_we-tend-to-have-more-faith-in-what-we-im_269245.jpg)
