A philosopher may try to prove the truth of something he believed before he was a philosopher, but even if he succeeds, his belief never regain the untroubled character, and the settled place in his mind, which it had at first.

Summary

This quote suggests that when a philosopher attempts to prove the truth of a belief they held before their philosophical pursuits, even if they are successful, that belief will never regain the same level of unquestioning certainty and conviction it once held. It implies that the process of philosophical examination can introduce doubt and upheaval, leading to a more nuanced understanding that is inherently different from the initial certainty held prior to philosophical inquiry.

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