Skeptical Quotes - Page 3

• The path of sound credence is through the thick forest of skepticism.

  George Jean Nathan

  Atheism, Forests, Sound

  George Jean Nathan (1971). “Materia, Critica: New Introd. by Charles Angoff”, p.5, Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press

  23 Copy quote

  Show source

• Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

  Epicurus

  Atheist, Faith Religion, Omnipotence

  35 Copy quote

• I think it's much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong.

  Richard P. Feynman

  Badass, Knowledge, Science

  Richard P. Feynman (2005). “The Pleasure of Finding Things Out: The Best Short Works of Richard P. Feynman”, p.21, Hachette UK

  28 Copy quote

  Show source

• It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.

  Arthur Conan Doyle

  Education, Mistake, Math

  "A Scandal in Bohemia" (1891)

  96 Copy quote

  Show source

• It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.

  Mark Twain

  Death, Religious, Atheist

  Mark Twain (2014). “Mark Twain on Common Sense: Timeless Advice and Words of Wisdom from America's Most-Revered Humorist”, p.31, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

  42 Copy quote

  Show source

• Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

  Epicurus

  God, Spiritual, Religious

  454 Copy quote

• It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data.

  Arthur Conan Doyle

  Mistake, Math, Science

  "A Scandal in Bohemia" (1891)

  12 Copy quote

  Show source

• It's a most distressing affliction to have a sentimental heart and a skeptical mind.

  Naguib Mahfouz

  Heart, Mind, Affliction

  FaceBook post by Naguib Mahfouz from Mar 05, 2014

  104 Copy quote

  Show source

• On the road from the City of Skepticism, I had to pass through the Valley of Ambiguity.

  Adam Smith

  Cities, Progress, Valleys

  Adam Smith (1978). “Powers of Mind”

  89 Copy quote

  Show source

• The natural cause of the human mind is certainly from credulity to skepticism.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Cynical, Mind, Causes

  "Symposium On Epic Of Thomas Jefferson:Embargo Act Of 1807 & The Quest For Limited Government Over Big Government". Book by Festus Ogunbitan (p. 1498), April 11, 2014.

  19 Copy quote

  Show source

• The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand.

  Frank Herbert

  Knowledge, Caring, Discovery

  Frank Herbert (2008). “God Emperor of Dune”, p.150, Penguin

  23 Copy quote

  Show source

• Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.

  Epicurus

  Atheist, Omnipotence, If There Is A God

  38 Copy quote

• History is the same thing over and over again.

  Woody Allen

  Fitness Motivational, Temporary Insanity, Bores You

  "Nothing Pleases Me More than Being Thought of as a European Filmmaker". Interview with Helene Zuber, www.spiegel.de. June 20, 2005.

  21 Copy quote

  Show source

• The most erroneous stories are those we think we know best - and therefore never scrutinize or question.

  Stephen Jay Gould

  Science, Thinking, Fog

  Stephen Jay Gould (2011). “Full House”, p.57, Harvard University Press

  13 Copy quote

  Show source

• If fifty million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing.

  Anatole France

  Funny, Wisdom, Stupid

  "Listening and Speaking : A Guide to Effective Oral Communication". Book by Ralph G. Nichols and Thomas R. Lewis, 1954.

  51 Copy quote

  Show source

• There are two possible outcomes: if the result confirms the hypothesis, then you've made a measurement. If the result is contrary to the hypothesis, then you've made a discovery.

  Enrico Fermi

  Science, Discovery, Two

  "Nuclear Principles in Engineering". Book by Tatjana Jevremovic, 2005.

  64 Copy quote

  Show source

• Skepticism is a virtue in history as well as in philosophy.

  Napoleon Bonaparte

  Philosophy, Virtue, Skepticism

  20 Copy quote

• The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' but 'That's funny...'

  Isaac Asimov

  Inspirational, Funny, Motivational

  "Betting On a Bass That Belts Them Out; Singing Fish Becomes Season’s Unlikely Hit" by Darragh Johnson, The Washington Post, July 30, 2000.

  88 Copy quote

  Show source

• Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

  Arthur C. Clarke

  Science, Technology, Possible And Impossible

  Letter to the editor, Science, 19 Jan. 1968.

  76 Copy quote

  Show source

• You know, I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman.

  Carly Fiorina

  Crazy, Believe, Men

  69 Copy quote

• I believe a marriage is between a man and a woman.

  George W. Bush

  Crazy, Believe, Men

  "Fox News Sunday" with Brit Hume, www.foxnews.com. August 3, 2003.

  79 Copy quote

  Show source

• I try to encourage people to think for themselves, to question standard assumptions... Don't take assumptions for granted. Begin by taking a skeptical attitude toward anything that is conventional wisdom. Make it justify itself. It usually can't. Be willing to ask questions about what is taken for granted. Try to think things through for yourself.

  Noam Chomsky

  Wisdom, Attitude, Taken

  Institute Professor Department of Linguistics and Philosophy Noam Chomsky, Noam Chomsky, John Junkerman, Takei Masakazu (2015). “Power and Terror: Conflict, Hegemony, and the Rule of Force”, p.5, Routledge

  76 Copy quote

  Show source

• Journalists, who are skeptical to begin with, simply do not like to be lied to or made fools of.

  Roger Mudd

  Fool, Lied, Made

  6 Copy quote

• The civilized man has a moral obligation to be skeptical, to demand the credentials of all statements that claim to be facts.

  Bergen Evans

  Trust, Wisdom, Men

  15 Copy quote

• If we are not able to ask skeptical questions, to interrogate those who tell us that something is true, to be skeptical of those in authority, then, we are up for grabs for the next charlatan (political or religious) who comes rambling along.

  Carl Sagan

  Religious, Political, Rambling

  Interview with Charlie Rose, May 27, 1996.

  28 Copy quote

  Show source