Karl Popper Quotes - Page 2

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• It is part of my thesis that all our knowledge grows only through the correcting of our mistakes.

  Karl Popper

  Truth, Mistake, Knowledge

  Karl Popper (2014). “Conjectures and Refutations: The Growth of Scientific Knowledge”, p.15, Routledge

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• It is not his possession of knowledge, of irrefutable truth, that makes the man of science, but his persistent and recklessly critical quest for truth.

  Karl Popper

  Knowledge, Science, Men

  The Logic of Scientific Discovery Ch. 10

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• It is wrong to think that belief in freedom always leads to victory; we must always be prepared for it to lead to defeat. If we choose freedom, then we must be prepared to perish along with it.

  Karl Popper

  Freedom, Thinking, Victory

  Karl Popper (2013). “All Life is Problem Solving”, p.92, Routledge

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• A theory which is not refutable by any conceivable event is non-scientific. Irrefutability is not a virtue of a theory (as people often think) but a vice.

  Karl Popper

  Thinking, People, Vices

  Karl Popper (2014). “Conjectures and Refutations: The Growth of Scientific Knowledge”, p.48, Routledge

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• Our knowledge can only be finite, while our ignorance must necessarily be infinite.

  Karl Popper

  Learning, Ignorance, Knowledge

  Lecture to British Academy, 20 Jan. 1960, in Proceedings of the British Academy (1960) vol. 46, p. 69

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• We have the right not to tolerate the intolerant. We should tolerate even them whenever we can do so without running a great risk; but the risk may become so great that we cannot allow ourselves the luxury.

  Karl Popper

  Running, Luxury, Risk

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• The true Enlightenment thinker, the true rationalist, never wants to talk anyone into anything. No, he does not even want to convince; all the time he is aware that he may be wrong. Above all, he values the intellectual independence of others too highly to want to convince them in important matters. He would much rather invite contradiction, preferably in the form of rational and disciplined criticism. He seeks not to convince but to arouse - to challenge others to form free opinions.

  Karl Popper

  Free Opinion, Challenges, Intellectual

  "On Freedom (All Life is Problem Solving)". Essay by Karl Popper, translated by Patrick Camiller, 1994.

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• We do not know anything - this is the first. Therefore, we should be very modest - this is the second. Not to claim that we do know when we do not - this is the third. That's the kind of attitude I'd like to popularize. There is little hope for success.

  Karl Popper

  Attitude, Littles, Firsts

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• Evolution is not a fact. Evolution doesn't even qualify as a theory or as a hypothesis. It is a metaphysical research program, and it is not really testable science.

  Karl Popper

  Research, Facts, Evolution

  "Unended Quest: An Intellectual Autobiography". Book by Karl Popper, 1976.

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• It is not possible to write clearly enough to avoid being misrepresented by people who are sufficiently determined to do so.

  Karl Popper

  Writing, People, Determined

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• The use of violence is justified only under a tyranny which makes reforms without violence impossible, and should have only one aim, that is, to bring about a state of affairs which makes reforms without violence possible.

  Karl Popper

  Should Have, Atheism, Use

  Karl Popper (2012). “The Open Society and Its Enemies”, p.360, Routledge

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• The game of science is, in principle, without end. He who decides one day that scientific statements do not call for any further test, and that they can be regarded as finally verified, retires from the game.

  Karl Popper

  Games, One Day, Principles

  Karl Popper (2005). “The Logic of Scientific Discovery”, p.32, Routledge

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• In my view, aiming at simplicity and lucidity is a moral duty of all intellectuals: lack of clarity is a sin, and pretentiousness is a crime.

  Karl Popper

  Views, Simplicity, Moral

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• The war of ideas is a Greek invention. It is one of the most important inventions ever made. Indeed, the possibility of fighting with with words and ideas instead of fighting with swords is the very basis of our civilization, and especially of all its legal and parliamentary institutions.

  Karl Popper

  War, Fighting, Civilization

  Karl Popper (2014). “Conjectures and Refutations: The Growth of Scientific Knowledge”, p.501, Routledge

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• We hate the very idea that our own ideas may be mistaken, so we cling dogmatically to our conjectures.

  Karl Popper

  Hate, Ideas, May

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• The difference between the amoeba and Einstein is that, although both make use of the method of trial and error elimination, the amoeba dislikes erring while Einstein is intrigued by it.

  Karl Popper

  Science, Errors, Differences

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• . . . it seems to me certain that more people are killed out of righteous stupidity than out of wickedness.

  Karl Popper

  People, Stupidity, Wickedness

  Karl Popper (2014). “Conjectures and Refutations: The Growth of Scientific Knowledge”, p.575, Routledge

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• It is wrong to ask who will rule. The ability to vote a bad government out of office is enough. That is democracy.

  Karl Popper

  Freedom, Government, Office

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• I may be wrong and you may be right, and by an effort, we may get nearer to the truth

  Karl Popper

  Effort, May, Rationalism

  Karl Popper (2012). “The Open Society and its Enemies”, p.510, Routledge

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• It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood.

  Karl Popper

  Communication, Misunderstood, Way

  Karl Popper (2005). “Unended Quest: An Intellectual Autobiography”, p.29, Routledge

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• The attempt to make heaven on earth invariably produces hell.

  Karl Popper

  Heaven, Earth, Hell

  Karl Popper (2005). “The Open Society and its Enemies: Hegel and Marx”, p.252, Routledge

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• When we enter a new situation in life and are confronted by a new person, we bring with us the prejudices of the past and our previous experiences of people. These prejudices we project upon the new person. Indeed, getting to know a person is largely a matter of withdrawing projections; of dispelling the smoke screen of what we imagine he is like and replacing it with the reality of what he is actually like.

  Karl Popper

  Past, Reality, Situations In Life

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• If we wish our civilization to survive we must break with the habit of deference to great men.

  Karl Popper

  Men, Civilization, Wish

  Karl Popper (2012). “The Open Society and its Enemies”, p.33, Routledge

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• We should therefore claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate the intolerant.

  Karl Popper

  Names, Tolerance, Claims

  Karl Popper (2012). “The Open Society and its Enemies”, p.668, Routledge

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• While differing widely in the various little bits we know, in our infinite ignorance we are all equal.

  Karl Popper

  Ignorance, Littles, Infinite

  Karl Popper (2014). “Conjectures and Refutations: The Growth of Scientific Knowledge”, p.38, Routledge

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