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Any truth is better than indefinite doubt.
Arthur Conan Doyle
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Certainty is preferable to uncertainty, even if the truth is uncomfortable.

This quote emphasizes the importance of knowing the truth, even when it may cause discomfort or challenge our existing beliefs. Living with doubt can lead to anxiety and indecision, while understanding what is true empowers us to take decisive actions and navigate life more effectively.

Themes

TruthDoubtKnowledgeCertaintyWisdom

In practice

Example use cases

In a motivational speech about decision-making, one can use this quote to encourage others to seek clarity.

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It has always seemed to me that so long as you produce your dramatic effect, accuracy of detail matters little. I have never striven for it and I have made some bad mistakes in consequence. What matter if I hold my readers?
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I could not rest, Watson, I could not sit quiet in my chair, if I thought that such a man as Professor Moriarty were walking the streets of London unchallenged.
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It seems very strange ... that in the course of the world's history so obvious an improvement should never have been adopted. ... The next generation of Britishers would be the better for having had this extra hour of daylight in their childhood.
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