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Appealing to his Einstein's way of expressing himself in theological terms, I said: If God had wanted to put everything into the universe from the beginning, He would have created a universe without change, without organisms and evolution, and without man and man's experience of change. But he seems to have thought that a live universe with events unexpected even by Himself would be more interesting than a dead one.

Karl Popper#6

PhilosophyChangeEvolutionLifeNatureTheologyUncertainty

About this quote

What does it mean?
A universe with change and surprise is more meaningful than a static, predetermined one.
In plain terms
Life is more interesting because things change and surprise us.
What can you take from it?
Embrace uncertainty as a sign of vitality.

Where it applies

  • philosophical debate
  • personal reflection
  • creative work

Putting it to work

  • accepting the unknown
  • valuing growth
  • exploring nature

Questions to consider

  • Is a predictable life better?
  • What makes existence meaningful?

Another view

Some find comfort in a deterministic view of the world.

More from Karl Popper

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  2. There is an almost universal tendency, perhaps an inborn tendency, to suspect the good faith of a man who holds opinions that differ from our own opinions. : I…

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  3. Whenever a theory appears to you as the only possible one, take this as a sign that you have neither understood the theory nor the problem which it was intende…

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