Quotes About Skepticism

Philosophy begins when one learns to doubt—particularly to doubt one's cherished beliefs, one's dogmas and one's axioms.

Generally religion and puritanism prevail in periods when the laws are feeble and morals must bear the burden of maintaining social order; skepticism and paganism (other factors being equal) progress as the rising power of law and government permits the decline of the church, the family, and morality without basically endangering the stability of the state.

centripetal organization unifying a culture in all its phases into a unique, coherent, and artistic form; the other a period of centrifugal disorganization in which creed and culture decompose in division and criticism, and end in a chaos of individualism, skepticism, and artistic aberrations.

Bacon distrusts the people, who were in his day quite without access to education; "the lowest of all flatteries is the flattery of the common people";41 and "Phocion took it right, who, being applauded by the multitude, asked, What had he done amiss?

On his tombstone only three words were necessary:   HERE LIES VOLTAIRE

It is difficult to be enthusiastic about Aristotle, because it was difficult for him to be enthusiastic about anything. His motto is nil admirari - to admire or marvel at nothing.

But something of the skepticism that injured my religious faith has overflowed into timid doubts of science

On his tombstone only three words were necessary: HERE LIES VOLTAIRE

Philosophy begins when one doubts one's own beliefs, dogmas, and axioms

It is not necessary to dig one's own grave. There are always others willing to dig it for you.' It's an old Cantonese proverb.

Since all the Riches of this World May be gifts from the Devil and Earthly Kings, I should suspect that I worship'd the Devil If I thank'd my God for Worldly things.

You mean you won't?" he said. "You mean, you won't?" It was very much like it had been in the school house: someone holding

Then there is the human factor. As a variation on the old maxim has it, "Big waves are not measured in feet, but in increments of bullshit.

In fact, the flashy, antiauthoritarian vaulters were suspiciously regarded, often with reason, by the coaches and their more loyal athletes as Thoreau-reading, dope-smoking, John Carlos–loving hippies.

It's just, sometimes it's just too God damned long to be able to keep believing something's real...

Conspiracy theory's got to be simple. Sense doesn't come into it. People are more scared of how complicated shit actually is than they ever are about whatever's supposed to be behind the conspiracy.

How's that different from being paranoid?" "Same. Except not crazy.

The half-shut eyes were dim with the infinite cynicism of adult life.

People don't help much.' He wanted to explain how people were never quite what you thought they were.

You think this is a trap then? the Count asked. I always think everything is a trap until proven otherwise, the Prince answered. Which is why I'm still alive.

You don't want to be rude but you have to be careful - there are a lot of strange people out there. (Goldman attributes this quote to Cliff Robertson.)

So you think this is a trap then? the Count said. I think everything is a trap. which is why I am still alive. said the prince

No one could be following us yet?" the Spaniard asked. "No one," the Sicilian assured him. "It would be inconceivable." "Absolutely inconceivable?" "Absolutely, totally, and, in all other ways, inconceivable," the Sicilian reassured him. "Why do you ask?

We have now decided that the poisoned cup is most likely in front of you. But the poison is powder made from iocane and iocane comes only from Australia and Australia, as everyone knows, is peopled with criminals and criminals are used to having people not trust them, as I don't trust you, which means I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you.