Quotes About Skepticism

Yo desconfío de un hombre que dice basta cuando le están sirviendo de beber. Pues si ha de tener cuidado de no beber demasiado, esto indica que no es de fiar cuando lo hace

Arthur, compelled by masculine instinct, leaned over and frowned at the contents of the case, exactly the way countless males have frowned at household appliances, plumbing, car engines, and all manner of other mechanical objects that they did not begin to understand. After a few seconds, as if he had seen something that satisfied his hard-nosed masculine skepticism, he straightened up and said, "OK.

I realize that some of you may be skeptical about the idea of reincarnation, but there's a lot of evidence that it's real. Exhibit A is Vice President Al Gore, who obviously, at some point in his previous existence, was a slab of Formica.

I am highly skeptical of any trend that large corporations participate in.

They were so in love with the world, and so disappointed in every aspect of it.

don't presume the benevolence of your leaders.

Healthy skepticism is often the best way to glean the value of what's being presented—challenge it; prove it wrong, if you can. That creates engagement, which is the key to understanding.

That's why I maintain a healthy skepticism when people want to get control of their work and life by "setting priorities." This is often just an attempt to sidestep responsibility for what they've been engaged with irresponsibly. My choice is always to go for cleaning up the garage of their work, their life, and their head. Then the priorities, the vision, and the plan emerge—grounded, with solid roots.

The real world out there isn't nearly as nice as some people prefer it to be, so don't swallow everything your high-born teachers tell you without takinga long hard look at it yourselves.

there?" "Doubtful. While

I don't believe in ghosts or magic." "I don't either, Mary. But I do know one thing." "What's that?" "That this guy is not going to get away.

How do you let magic die?" I said slowly. I didn't know why, but I felt a great sense of loss at this. "By not using it. By not believing in it anymore. Belief, having faith in something, is a very powerful thing, Vega.

I'm trying to decide if you're hopelessly naïve or I'm a confirmed cynic.

prevaricate. As a detective and now a PI, he had to

Stop trusting the freaking Russians. They are not our friend.

Just because I work there doesn't mean I have to drink all the Kool-Aid. - Veronica Knox

So why do you think he's involved?" This came from Agent Lafferty. Bogart turned to her, seemingly surprised that she had uttered actual words. Decker stared dead at her. "Because he's inexplicable. And I don't like people who are inexplicable.

Listen, ask questions, don't believe anything is true unless you can corroborate it, and don't trust anyone.

that that won't be the case." "I don't trust

Your problem is you don't believe in anything, Lou. And your problem is you believe in everything

My own view, repeated in virtually all of my essays, is that the sense of skepticism engendered by the sciences would be far more appropriately directed toward the sciences than toward anything else.

We can't just accept it – we must doubt it. For by doubting we come to inquiry, and from inquiry we come to the truth.

Producing laws is not an easier job than producing cars and food, so if the government is incompetent to produce cars or food, why do you expect it to do a good job producing the legal system within which you are then going to produce the cars and the food?

That illustrates my rule of thumb for reading history: View with suspicion any anecdote that makes a good enough story to have survived on its literary merits.