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0fdf9e6 Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt. doubt resolve self-doubt William Shakespeare
8e03dc2 " "Four be the things I am wiser to know: Idleness, sorrow, a friend, and a foe. Four be the things I'd been better without: Love, curiosity, freckles, and doubt. Three be the things I shall never attain: Envy, content, and sufficient champagne. Three be the things I shall have till I die: Laughter and hope and a sock in the eye." contentment curiosity doubt envy foes friends hope idleness inventory knowledge laughter life love sorrow sufficienty superfluity unattainable values wisdom Dorothy Parker
8fa06b9 I like the scientific spirit--the holding off, the being sure but not too sure, the willingness to surrender ideas when the evidence is against them: this is ultimately fine--it always keeps the way beyond open--always gives life, thought, affection, the whole man, a chance to try over again after a mistake--after a wrong guess. certainty doubt evidence guess humble ideas life mistake science scientific skepticism surrender thought Walt Whitman
9b188b0 We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty! doubt humour life uncertainty Douglas Adams
b8ff42c You are never dedicated to something you have complete confidence in. No one is fanatically shouting that the sun is going to rise tomorrow. They it's going to rise tomorrow. When people are fanatically dedicated to political or religious faiths or any other kinds of dogmas or goals, it's always because these dogmas or goals are in doubt. doubt faith Robert M. Pirsig
196b865 "I never seek to defeat the man I am fighting, " he explained. "I seek to defeat his confidence. A mind troubled by doubt cannot focus on the course to victory. Two men are equals - true equals - only when they both have equal confidence." doubt Arthur Golden
df14379 To 'choose' dogma and faith over doubt and experience is to throw out the ripening vintage and to reach greedily for the Kool-Aid. dogma doubt experience faith kool-aid religion scepticism Christopher Hitchens
ea14670 you must be careful never to allow doubt to paralyze you. always take the decisions you need to take, even if you're not sure you're doing the right thing. You'll never go wrong if, when you make a decision, you keep in mind an old German proverb: 'The devil is in the detail.' Remember that proverb and you'll always be able to turn a wrong decision into a right one. doubt inspirational Paulo Coelho
a2cbbed ...Whilst on board the Beagle I was quite orthodox, and I remember being heartily laughed at by several of the officers... for quoting the Bible as an unanswerable authority on some point of morality... But I had gradually come by this time, i.e., 1836 to 1839, to see that the Old Testament from its manifestly false history of the world, with the Tower of Babel, the rainbow at sign, &c., &c., and from its attributing to God the feelings of a revengeful tyrant, was no more to be trusted than the sacred books of the Hindoos, or the beliefs of any barbarian. ...By further reflecting that the clearest evidence would be requisite to make any sane man believe in the miracles by which Christianity is supported, (and that the more we know of the fixed laws of nature the more incredible do miracles become), that the men at that time were ignorant and credulous to a degree almost uncomprehensible by us, that the Gospels cannot be proved to have been written simultaneously with the events, that they differ in many important details, far too important, as it seemed to me, to be admitted as the usual inaccuracies of eyewitnesses; by such reflections as these, which I give not as having the least novelty or value, but as they influenced me, I gradually came to disbelieve in Christianity as a divine revelation. The fact that many false religions have spread over large portions of the earth like wild-fire had some weight with me. Beautiful as is the morality of the New Testament, it can be hardly denied that its perfection depends in part on the interpretation which we now put on metaphors and allegories. But I was very unwilling to give up my belief... Thus disbelief crept over me at a very slow rate, but was at last complete. The rate was so slow that I felt no distress, and have never since doubted even for a single second that my conclusion was correct. I can indeed hardly see how anyone ought to wish Christianity to be true; for if so the plain language of the text seems to show that the men who do not believe, and this would include my Father, Brother and almost all of my friends, will be everlastingly punished. And this is a damnable doctrine. atheism autobiography belief charles-darwin damnable divine-revelation doctrine doubt evidence hell hindu hinduism history interpretation metaphors miracles new-testament old-testament orthodox punishment resurrection revelation sacred-books skepticism tyrant Charles Darwin
912fae7 Defeat is for the valiant. Only they will know the honour of losing and the joy of winning I am not here to tell you that defeat is a part of life: we all know that. Only the defeated know Love. Because it is in the realm of love that we fight our first battles - and generally lose. I am here to tell you that there are people who have never been defeated. They are the ones who never fought. They managed to avoid scars, humiliations, feelings of helplessness, as well as those moments when even warriors doubt the existence of God.'' Manuscript Found In Accra - Paulo Coelho defeat denial doubt god helplessness honour humiliation life love scar valiant victory Paulo Coelho
eaf6eaf If you're waiting until you feel talented enough to make it, you'll never make it. action actor ambition athlete bravery business career concern confidence contentment courage determination doubt dreams emotions encouraging faith fear feelings follow-your-dreams gift good-enough insecurity inspirational just-do-it just-do-something motivational musician passion perseverance persistence pursue-your-dreams risk security skill success take-action talent worry Criss Jami
0712eb0 "We live by revelation, as Christians, as artists, which means we must be careful never to get set into rigid molds. The minute we begin to think we know all the answers, we forget the questions, and we become smug like the Pharisee who listed all his considerable virtues, and thanked God that he was not like other men. Unamuno might be describing the artist as well as the Christian as he writes, "Those who believe they believe in God, but without passion in the heart, without anguish of mind, without uncertainty, without doubt, and even at times without despair, believe only in the idea of God, and not in God himself." christian-living doubt faith god suffering Madeleine L'Engle
e4c251d If you tried to doubt everything you would not get as far as doubting anything. The game of doubting itself presupposes certainty. doubt doubting Ludwig Wittgenstein
3ebfd9f A child said What is the grass? fetching it to me with full hands; How could I answer the child? I do not know what it is any more than he. doubt questioning Walt Whitman
af7a205 WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES when we go against our instincts? What are the consequences of not speaking out? What are the consequences of guilt, shame, and doubt? consequences doubt guilt instinct instincts shame speaking-out voice Terry Tempest Williams
1259501 I love doubt in a woman. It's nearly as sexy as determination. doubt sex women Irvine Welsh
0f62612 doubt is the privilege of those who have lived a long time, cain doubt José Saramago
fb51beb In times of widespread chaos and confusion, it has been the duty of more advanced human beings--artists, scientists, clowns and philosophers--to create order. In times such as ours, however, when there is too much order, too much management, too much programming and control, it becomes the duty of superior men and women to fling their favorite monkey wrenches into the machinery. To relive the repression of the human spirit, they must sow doubt and disruption. disruption doubt order revolution system Tom Robbins
45f5128 It's not atheists who get stuck in my caw, but agnostics. Doubt is useful for awhile. We all must pass through the garden of Gethsemane. If Christ played with doubt, so must we... But we must move on. To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as means of transportation. atheists doubt Yann Martel
ae9aff7 Take faith, for example. For many people in our world, the opposite of faith is doubt. The goal, then, within this understanding, is to eliminate doubt. But faith and doubt aren't opposites. Doubt is often a sign that your faith has a pulse, that it's alive and well and exploring and searching. Faith and doubt aren't opposites, they are, it turns out, excellent dance partners. doubt faith inspiration religion Rob Bell
c86d402 We read the pagan sacred books with profit and delight. With myth and fable we are ever charmed, and find a pleasure in the endless repetition of the beautiful, poetic, and absurd. We find, in all these records of the past, philosophies and dreams, and efforts stained with tears, of great and tender souls who tried to pierce the mystery of life and death, to answer the eternal questions of the Whence and Whither, and vainly sought to make, with bits of shattered glass, a mirror that would, in very truth, reflect the face and form of Nature's perfect self. These myths were born of hopes, and fears, and tears, and smiles, and they were touched and colored by all there is of joy and grief between the rosy dawn of birth, and death's sad night. They clothed even the stars with passion, and gave to gods the faults and frailties of the sons of men. In them, the winds and waves were music, and all the lakes, and streams, and springs,--the mountains, woods and perfumed dells were haunted by a thousand fairy forms. They thrilled the veins of Spring with tremulous desire; made tawny Summer's billowed breast the throne and home of love; filled Autumns arms with sun-kissed grapes, and gathered sheaves; and pictured Winter as a weak old king who felt, like Lear upon his withered face, Cordelia's tears. These myths, though false, are beautiful, and have for many ages and in countless ways, enriched the heart and kindled thought. But if the world were taught that all these things are true and all inspired of God, and that eternal punishment will be the lot of him who dares deny or doubt, the sweetest myth of all the Fable World would lose its beauty, and become a scorned and hateful thing to every brave and thoughtful man. autumn beautiful birth brave death delight deny doubt dreams effort eternity fable fairy fear gods grief hateful haunted hope joy king-lear lake life love mountains music mystery nature pagan passion past perfection philosophies pleasure poetic punishment questions religion-myths sacred-books scorn shakespeare smiles spring summer tears tender thought throne true truth william-shakespeare winter woods Robert G. Ingersoll
9be7fd9 "I do not believe that God has given us this trial to not purpose. I know that the day will come when we will clearly understand why this persecution with all it's sufferings has been bestowed upon us -- for everything that Our Lord does is for our good. And yet, even as I write these words I feel the oppressive weight in my heart of those last stammering words of Kichijiro in the morning of his departure: "Why has Deus Sama imposed this suffering on us?" and then the resentment in those eyes that he turned upon me. "Father", he had said "what evil have we done?" I suppose I should simply cast from my mind these meaningless words of the coward; yet why does his plaintive voice pierce my breast with tall the pain of a sharp needle? Why has Our Lord imposed this torture and this persecution on poor Japanese peasants? No, Kichijiro was trying to express something different, something even more sickening. The silence of God. Already twenty years have passed since the persecution broke out; the black soil of Japan has been filled with the lament of so many Christians; the red blood of priests has flowed profusely; the walls of churches have fallen down; and in the face of this terrible and merciless sacrifice offered up to Him, God has remained silent." doubt persecution Shūsaku Endō
5659b0a For anything worth accomplishing, we can always find reasons to doubt, just as we can also find reasons to proceed...I have chosen to side with faith and hope over doubt and despair. doubt faith hope Brandon Mull
f00a2f4 I think that when in doubt about the truth of an issue, it's safer and in better taste to select the least numerous of the adversaries. doubt minority-opinion oppression subversion truth Ayn Rand
18d131d " was of the opinion... that his ideas were generally misunderstood and distorted even by those who professed to be his disciples. He doubted he would be better understood in the future. He once said he felt as though he were writing for people who would think in a different way, breathe a different air of life, from that of present-day men. doubt future ideas ludwig-wittgenstein misunderstood opinion wittgenstein Georg Henrik von Wright
d257b3c A little credulity helps one on through life very smoothly -- better than always doubting and doubting and seeing difficulties and disagreeables in everything. doubt trust Elizabeth Gaskell
ba6dd2e Try your hardest to combat atrophy and routine. To question The Obvious and the given is an essential element of the maxim 'de omnius dubitandum' [All is to be doubted]. contrarian doubt routine wisdom Christopher Hitchens
1140c28 "Where is God when it hurts? We know one answer because God came to earth and showed us. You need only follow Jesus around and note how he responded to the tragedies of his day: large-scale tragedies such as an act of government terrorism in the temple or a tower collapsing on eighteen innocent bystanders; as well as small tragedies, such as a widow who has lost her only son or even a Roman soldier whose servant has fallen ill. At moments like these Jesus never delivered sermons about judgment or the need to accept God's mysterious providence. Instead he responded with compassion - a word from Latin which simply means, "to suffer with" - and comfort and healings. God stands on the side of those who suffer. (pp.27-28/What Good Is God?)" compassion doubt faith Philip Yancey
552249c Be true, unbeliever. doubt faith truth Stephen R. Donaldson
938e155 I lay in bed and watched moments break into phenomenal particles of panic and could actually see the divine crack of God's ass as he completely turned his back on me. doubt fear god panic Arthur Nersesian
25253cc "For a moment he could do nothing but close his eyes. Was this a taste of the rest of his life as Billie Bridgerton's husband? Was he destined to live in terror, wondering what sort of danger she'd thrown herself into that day? Was it worth it? "George?" she whispered. She sounded uneasy. Had she seen something in his expression? A sign of doubt? He touched her cheek, and he looked into her eyes. He saw his whole world there. "I love you," he said. Someone gasped. It might have been his mother. "I cannot live without you," he said, "and in fact, I refuse to do so. So no, you will not be going on some ill-advised mission to the coast to hand off a potentially dangerous package to people you don't know. Because if anything happened to you..." His voice broke, but he didn't care. "If anything happened to you, it would kill me. And I'd like to think you love me too much to let that happen." Billie stared at him in wonder, her softly parted lips trembling as she blinked back tears. "You love me?" she whispered. He nearly rolled his eyes. "Of course I do." "You never said." "I must have done." "You didn't. I would have remembered." "I would remember, too," he said softly, "if you'd ever said it to me." "I love you," she said immediately. "I do. I love you so much. I --" "Thank God," Lady Manston exclaimed. George and Billie both turned." doubt happiness love world Julia Quinn
5d6a90e The quest for a lost city erodes your body, damaging you beyond all reason. But it is your mind that bears the heaviest toll. Listen to the doubters, the worriers and the weak, and the vaguest hope of success evaporates. doubt quest search success Tahir Shah
ceb07e0 Don't you ever think,' he asked cautiously, 'that it would be better to be a bully than to be bullied? At least that way no one could ever hurt you.' Katarina turned to him in amazement. 'No,' she said definitively, shaking her head. 'No Pieter, I never think that, not for a moment. doubt violence John Boyne
26d19bf "I hold the biscuits in front of his face and he stands up. "What do I have to do?" he says. "Nothing," I say. "They're for you." "Are they poisoned?" he says. "No," I say. "Eat one," he says. So I do. "Probably the others are poisoned," he says. "Eat a fraction of each." I eat a corner off each biscuit. He looks at the reminders suspiciously, then sniffs them. "I'm not sure it's worth it," he says. "How I wish you'd never come. Perhaps you've left the poison off of just those corners." I begin to realize I'll doubt whatever information he gives me. "Lick the entire biscuit," he says. "Then give them to me." So I lick each biscuit. "Both sides," he says. I lick both sides of each biscuit. I give him the wet biscuits and he cracks them open and sniffs them. Then he puts them in his pocket. "What do you want?" he says. "Now that you've failed to poison me to death." doubt humor paranoia poisoning George Saunders
b28a4ca When in doubt, check if your actions are aligned with your purpose. align alignment doubt purpose Azim Jamal & Brian Tracy
e5b0f29 ...even misplaced faith can help us gain knowledge. We try to be smart about where we put our faith and we adjust as we learn more. doubt faith learning Brandon Mull
3915538 "They have not forgotten the Mysteries," she said, "they have found them too difficult. They want a God who will care for them, who will not demand that they struggle for enlightenment, but who will accept them just as they are, with all their sins, and take away their sins with repentance. It is not so, it will never be so, but perhaps it is the only way the unenlightened can bear to think of their Gods." Lancelet smiled bitterly. "Perhaps a religion which demands that every man must work through lifetime after lifetime for his own salvation is too much for mankind. They want not to wait for God's justice, but to see it now. And that is the lure which this new breed of priests has promised them." doubt god rebirth religion salvation Marion Zimmer Bradley
5bf8780 In a matter of weeks, he had learned that without suffering and doubt, there can be no whole human being. doubt humanity maturity suffering Sinclair Lewis
0db1689 Cynicism! That, no doubt is a greater crime than heresy. cynicism doubt greater heresy Frank Herbert
1393e26 Whatever doubt might rise, he knew that he was right. But the rightness was an intellectual rightness and the doubt emotional. doubt Clifford D. Simak
9bab412 "Don't be tossed away by your monkey mind. You say you want to do something--"I really want to be a writer"--then that little voice comes along, "but I might not make enough money as a writer." "Oh, okay, then I won't write." That's being tossed away. These little voices are constantly going to be nagging us. If you make a decision to do something, you do it. Don't be tossed away. But part of not being tossed away is understanding your mind, not believing it so much when it comes up with all these objections and then loads you with all these insecurities and reasons not to do something." discouragement doubt Natalie Goldberg
a597f0c They were like two poor little leaves in a storm which bore death and annihilation not only to the heads of individuals, but to whole towns and entire tribes. What hand could snatch it and save two small, defenseless children? doubt suspence Henryk Sienkiewicz
0aac4fc He would not now conduct little Nell to the coast; he would not convey her by a steamer to Port Said, would not surrender her to Mr. Rawlinson; he himself would not fall into his father's arms and would not hear from his lips that he had acted like a true Pole! The end, the end! In a few days the sun would shine only upon the lifeless bodies and afterwards would dry them up into a semblance of those mummies which slumber in an eternal sleep in the museums in Egypt death-and-dying desert doubt hopelessness sahara Henryk Sienkiewicz
952fb99 "Take care,' said Delaura. 'Sometimes we attribute certain things we do not understand to the demon, not thinking they may be things of God that we do not understand.' 'Saint Thomas said it, and I will be guided by him,' said the Abbess: '"One must not believe demons even when they speak the truth." demons doubt st-thomas truth Gabriel Garcí­a Márquez
d5017f2 Everything that happens, happens at the only possible time it can happen, and it is always at exactly the right time. doubt timing wisdom wu-wei Wu Wei
5a88407 In two easy strides, I reach her, weave my arms around her waist and lift her feet off the ground. My angel is so light she practically floats. I answer. She rests her forehead against mine and braids her hands tightly on my neck. I love the sensation of her body against mine. Tonight, I'm going to kiss her again and, if she'll let me, I'll explore a little further. She smiles when she notices the lightness in my voice. doubt insane isaiah never rachel-young Katie McGarry
579e132 Lately Kevin has been bothering himself with the idea that nothing is certain, nothing can be proven. Not one thing, not in all the world. The sun will rise tomorrow. The sun rose this morning. The sun is in the sky. There's a sun at all. The world is like a box of Kleenex, every doubt pulling another along behind it. You can always find a new reason to distrust the facts. certainty doubt proof Kevin Brockmeier
7a165b4 Even the worst outcome we can imagine will ultimately benefit us. It is because of that law of favor-ability that the Universe is able to continue and we are able to bring about the fruition of our plans. doubt i-ching universal-law wu-wei Wu Wei
20b4244 Never doubt in the darkness what God has given us in the light. doubt god light Francine Rivers
075974c The devil is not the prince of matter; the devil is the arrogance of spirit, faith without smile, truth that is never seized by doubt. The devil is grim because he knows where he is going, and, in moving, he always returns from whence he came. doubt evil faith Umberto Eco
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