Certainty and Doubt

Quotations about Certainty and Doubt

home▸themes▸Certainty and Doubt

Using Quotations in a Speech or Text about Certainty and Doubt

As well as keeping your audience engaged, adding quotations to a speech or a text can significantly enhance its impact and effectiveness. Quotations are useful for explaining complex ideas concisely, much in the same way that analogies are used. Additionally, quotations from experts or celebrities can add credibility to your message.

Here are some funny and poignant quotations about certainty and doubt. If your speech is serious, do not automatically avoid funny quotations as they can often be the most impactful, forcing your audience into the thinking about the hidden analogous message in your selected quotation.

"Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious." (British actor Peter Ustinov)
"When a thing is funny, search it carefully for a hidden truth." (Irish dramatist George Bernard Shaw)

If you are looking to make a fuller speech about certainty and doubt, then below this selection of quotations are three funny themes and three serious themes on the topic of certainty and doubt that might help trigger some ideas for your speech or text.

"The only thing I know for certain is that I know nothing." Socrates (Greek philosopher, 470-399 BC)

"The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence." Charles Bukowski (German-born American writer, 1920-94)

"I am certain there is too much certainty in the world." Michael Crichton (American author, 1942-2008)

"To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first, and call whatever you hit the target." Ashleigh Brilliant (American writer and cartoonist, 1933-)

I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm *not too sure.*certain.*definitely gay.* Tommy Cooper (British comedian, 1921-84)

"If there are no stupid questions, then what kind of questions do stupid people ask? Do they get smart just in time to ask questions?" Scott Adams (American cartoonist, 1957-)

"The only thing that makes life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertainty; not knowing what comes next." Ursula K. Le Guin (American writer, 1929-2018)

To be uncertain is uncomfortable, but to be certain is *ridiculous.*smart.*a sign of confidence.* Voltaire (French writer and philosopher, 1694-1778)

"I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened." Mark Twain (American writer, 1835-1910) on worrying about uncertainties

"I have noticed that even people who claim everything is predetermined and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road." Stephen Hawking (English theoretical physicist, 1942-2018)

"The *future*game*past* ain't what it used to be." Yogi Berra (American baseball player, 1925-2015)

"There are only two certainties in life: death and *taxes.*nurses.*pain.* And at least death doesn't repeat itself annually." anonymous

"He used to be fairly indecisive, but now he's not so certain." Peter Alliss (English golfer, 1931-)

"I've never had a humble opinion. If you've got an opinion, why be humble about it?" Joan Baez (American singer and songwriter, 1941-)

"Of course not, but I am told it works even if you don't believe in it." Niels Bohr (Danish physicist, 1885-1962) when asked whether a horseshoe brings luck

The archbishop [Archbishop Runcie] is usually to be found nailing his colours to the *fence.*mast.*the bench.* Frank Field (British Labour politician, 1942-)

I'll give you a definite *maybe.*yes.*no.* Sam Goldwyn (American film producer, 1882-1974)

Well, who you gonna believe, me or your *own eyes?*mother?*dog?* Bert Kalmar (screenwriter, 1884-1947)

"I wish I was as cocksure of anything as Tom Macaulay is of everything." Lord Melbourne (British Whig statesman, 1779-1848)

"I am not denying anything I did not say." Brian Mulroney (Canadian Conservative statesman, 1939-)

"To convince Cezanne [French artist] of anything is like teaching *the towers of Notre Dame*a dog*a bishop* to dance." Emile Zola (French novelist, 1840-1902)

Thinking Template for a Speech or Text on Certainty and Doubt

Below are 3 funny themes and 3 serious themes related to certainty and doubt. These have been included to help you identify areas to explore.

Funny Themes:

The Overconfident Expert: When Certainty Leads to Hilarious Mistakes
- Share amusing stories of people who were absolutely certain about something, only to be proven hilariously wrong, highlighting the pitfalls of overconfidence.
Decision-Making Dilemmas: Funny Moments of Indecision
- Highlight the humorous side of being indecisive, with stories and anecdotes about the struggles and funny outcomes of trying to make the perfect decision.
Predicting the Future: Laughing at Failed Predictions
- Explore the comedy in past predictions about the future that turned out to be wildly inaccurate, showcasing the uncertainty of forecasting.

Serious Themes:

The Role of Certainty and Doubt in Scientific Inquiry
- Discuss how certainty and doubt drive scientific research, the importance of questioning assumptions, and the value of skepticism in advancing knowledge.
Certainty in Decision-Making: The Balance Between Confidence and Flexibility
- Address the need for a balance between certainty and flexibility in decision-making, highlighting strategies for making confident yet adaptable choices.
The Psychological Impact of Certainty and Doubt
- Explore the psychological effects of certainty and doubt on individuals, including how they influence stress, anxiety, and overall mental health.

Help Us Improve Funny Quotation (#FuQ)