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About this quote

What does it mean?
Choosing doubt as a life philosophy prevents action and progress, similar to choosing not to move when traveling.
In plain terms
Living in doubt stops you from moving forward in life.
What can you take from it?
Doubt paralyzes action.

Where it applies

  • making life choices
  • overcoming hesitation
  • personal growth

Putting it to work

  • commit to decisions
  • act despite uncertainty
  • avoid analysis paralysis

Questions to consider

  • When has doubt held you back?
  • Is there value in staying uncertain?

Another view

Sometimes doubt is necessary for critical thinking and avoiding rash choices.

More from Yann Martell

  1. The lower you are, the higher your mind will want to soar. p.314

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  2. A person can get used to anything, even to killing.

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  3. Scientists are a friendly, atheistic, hard-working lot whose minds are preoccupied with sex, chess and baseball when they are not preoccupied with science.

    Permalink to quote #5

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