Home / Topics / Doubt Quotes

Doubt Quotes

Browse 5874 quotes about Doubt.

Doubt Quotes

“The student who would build his knowledge on solid foundations, and proceed by just degrees to the pinnacles of truth, is directed by the great philosopher of France to begin by doubting of his own existence. In like manner, whoever would complete any arduous and intricate enterprise, should, as soon as his imagination can cool after the first blaze of hope, place before his own eyes every possible embarrassment that may retard or defeat him. He should first question the probability of success, and then endeavour to remove the objections that he has raised.”

Source: The Rambler: A Periodical Paper, Published in 1750, 1751, 1752

“The task of the political philosopher can only be to influence public opinion, not to organize people for action. He will do so effectively only if he is not concerned with what is now politically possible but consistently defends the "general principles which are always the same." In this sense I doubt whether there can be such a thing as a conservative political philosophy. Conservatism may often be a useful practical maxim, but it does not give us any guiding principles which can influence long-range developments.”

“I don't doubt that at the dawn of martial arts, the main goal was to beat up one's opponents in the most effective way possible. But then, indirectly, the alchemy of martial arts began to strike some chords deep within the spirit of many individuals, transforming living war-machines into poets, artists, and philosophers.”

Source: On the Warrior's Path, Second Edition: Philosophy, Fighting, and Martial Arts Mythology

“Philosophers have widely differed as to the seat of the soul, and St. Paul has told us that out of the heart proceed murmurings; but there can be no doubt that the seat of perfect contentment is in the head, for every individual is thoroughly satisfied with his own proportion of brains.”

Heart Soul Individual Perfect Brain Doubt Philosopher Satisfied No Doubt Proportion Seats Contentment Murmuring

Book:Remarks on the Talents of Lord Byron and the Tendencies of Don Juan

Source: Remarks on the Talents of Lord Byron and the Tendencies of Don Juan

“Some philosophers tell us that selfishness is at the root of our best loves and affections. Mr. Dombey's young child was, from the beginning, so distinctly important to him as a part of his own greatness, or (which is the same thing) of the greatness of Dombey and Son, that there is no doubt his parental affection might have been easily traced, like many a goodly superstructure of fair fame, to a very low foundation.”

Source: Dombey and Son ... With frontispiece by H. K. Browne

“It is only great pain--that slow, sustained pain that takes its time, in which we are, as it were, burned with smoldering green firewood--that forces us philosophers to sink to our ultimate profundity and to do away with all the trust, everything good-natured, veil-imposing, mild and middling, on which we may have previously based our humanity. I doubt that such a pain makes us 'better'--but I know that it makes us deeper.”

Knows May Pain Humanity Force Doubt Ultimate Green Philosopher Deeper Burned Veils Imposing Profundity Firewood

Author:Friedrich Nietzsche

“The business of the philosopher is well done if he succeeds in raising genuine doubt.”

Ifs Wells Done Doubt Succeed Conscience Philosopher Genuine Well Done

Author:Morris Raphael Cohen

“I believe that the Bible is to be understood and received in the plain and obvious meaning of its passages; for I cannot persuade myself that a book intended for the instruction and conversion of the whole world should cover its true meaning in any such mystery and doubt that none but critics and philosophers can discover it.”

World Should Believe Book Whole I Believe Doubt Mystery Understood Bible Critics Philosopher Obvious Conversion Whole World Passages Instruction True Meaning

Book:The papers of Daniel Webster: Correspondence

Source: The papers of Daniel Webster: Correspondence

“All are sure in their days except the most wise ... He is the wisest philosopher who holds his theory with some doubt.”

Doubt Wise Theory Philosopher Wisest Most Wise

Book:The Life and Letters of Faraday

Source: The Life and Letters of Faraday

“I decided to do philosophy at university, with a view to becoming a professional philosopher. Being a rather unstable character, at some points I had doubts about becoming a professional philosopher, but the example of two of my teachers, Ezequiel de Olaso and Juan Rodriguez Larreta, made me confirm my original decision.”

Made Two Philosophy Character Decision Views Doubt Teacher Example Becoming Decided Originals University Philosopher Unstable Juan

Author:Gonzalo Rodriguez-Pereyra