Quotes About Skepticism

I am afraid the Spanish American has not always a very strict regard for truth.

Anyone working for a big company might be skeptical that a large business, or even a strictly online business, can form the same kind of friendly, loyal relationship with customers as a local retailer. I'm saying it's already been done because I lived it.

My mother's openness has remained inspiring to me. I strive to be a skeptic, in the best sense of that word: I question everything, and yet I'm open to everything. And I don't have immovable beliefs. My values shift and grow with my experiences - and as my context changes, so does what I believe.

I've always been struck by how unsuspicious people are in general, if you tell them what you're about.

I agree with Chomsky in almost nothing. When it comes to innate structures and so on, I'm very skeptical.

I am completely opposed to the concept of big data.

Optimism is the opium of the people.

I've never been an optimist.

If there's one thing that makes me cynical, it's optimists. They are just far too cynical about cynicism. If only they could see that cynics can be happy, constructive, even fun to hang out with, they might learn a thing or two.

I'm not optimistic.

I think, increasingly, despite what we are being told is an ever more open world of communication, there is a terrible alienation in the ordinary man between what he is being told and what he secretly believes.

Daddy was like a lot of people who kind of turn their noses up when you say the word 'organic.'

But I don't believe in organised politics, organised religion, organised music, organised anything.

I don't believe in organised happiness.

I don't know about Brad Pitt leaving that beautiful woman to go hold orphans for Angelina. I mean how long is that going to last?

By all means let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out.

I'm not out here trying putting on an act like I'm crazy. In my opinion, everyone else is crazy. They're the ones who put on an act for you, doing what they're told in front of the camera.

Hypocrisy is the outside of cynicism.

I think most of us are outsiders. And I think that's good because it makes you question things.

In like manner, if I let myself believe anything on insufficient evidence, there may be no great harm done by the mere belief; it may be true after all, or I may never have occasion to exhibit it in outward acts.

By the late '70s I had come to question the point of a great deal of what we were doing, in terms of the CIA's overall charter.

It's easier to be cynical and edgy and tough rather than overly emotional.

An old Buddhist saying: BELIEVE nothing because it is said to be of divine origin. BELIEVE nothing because a wise man said it. BELIEVE nothing because its belief is generally held. BELIEVE nothing because it is written in ancient books. BELIEVE nothing because someone else believes it. BUT believe only what you yourself know to be true.

It sounded a bit like his mother, a woman who'd lied to him about the existence of Santa Claus and was therefore not to be trusted on matters of any importance.