The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant and kind.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
There is only one thing about which I am certain, and this is that there is very little about which one can be certain
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the uncertainty of life and the limited nature of human knowledge.
W. Somerset Maugham's quote emphasizes the idea that while we often seek certainty in various aspects of our lives, the reality is that very few things can be known with absolute certainty. This reflects a philosophical understanding of the complexities and unpredictabilities of life, urging individuals to accept ambiguity and be open to the unknown.
Themes
CertaintyUncertaintyKnowledgeLifePhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
During a graduation speech to encourage students to embrace the unknown.
More from W. Somerset Maugham
All quotes βCronshaw stopped for a moment to drink. He had pondered for twenty years the problem whether he loved liquor because it made him talk or whether he loved conversation because it made him thirsty.
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Are you sure you can prevent yourself from falling in love one of these days? Such things do happen, you know, even to the most prudent men.' Simon gave him a strange, one might even have thought a hostile, look. I should tear it out of my heart as I'd wrench out of my mouth a rotten tooth.
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I don't think of the past. The only thing that matters is the everlasting present.
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The world is quickly bored by the recital of misfortune, and willing avoids the sight of distress.
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There in the mist, enormous, majestic, silent and terrible, stood the Great Wall of China. Solitarily, with the indifference of nature herself, it crept up the mountain side and slipped down to the depth of the valley.
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