“The widespread interest in gossip is inspired, not by a love of knowledge but by malice: no one gossips about other people's secret virtues, but only about their secret vices. Accordingly most gossip is untrue, but care is taken not to verify it. Our neighbour's sins, like the consolations of religion, are so agreeable that we do not stop to scrutinise the evidence closely.” PeopleCareInterestSinSecretVirtueTakenEvidenceInspiredVicesGossipConsolationNeighbourMaliceUntrueVerify Book:On Education Source: On Education
“That's what torture does: it creates a miasma of unknowing, about as dangerous a situation in wartime as one can imagine. This hideous fate was made possible by an inexperienced president with a fundamentalist psyche and a paranoid and power-hungry vice-president who decided to embrace "the dark side" almost as soon as the second tower fell, and who is still trying to avenge Nixon. Until they are both gone from office, we are in grave danger the kind of danger that only torturers and fantasists and a security strategy based on coerced evidence can conjure up.” TryingKindDoeMadeStillsSidesPresidentDarkSituationGoneFateImagineSecurityDangerousDangerOfficeEvidenceDecidedStrategyEmbraceVicesGravesHungryTortureTowersDark SideHideousParanoidVice PresidentFundamentalistWartimeUnknowingPower Hungry Author:Andrew Sullivan
“Look ... first and foremost, I'm a scientist. That means it's my responsibility to make observations and gather evidence before forming a hypothesis, not vice versa.” FirstsLooksMeanResponsibilityEvidenceScientistVicesObservationHypothesisVice Versa Book:Hex Source: Hex
“A truly open mind means forcing our imaginations to conform to the evidence of reality, and not vice versa.” MindMeanRealityImaginationEvidenceVicesConformOpen MindVice Versa Book:A Universe From Nothing Source: A Universe From Nothing
“If we wish to draw philosophical conclusions about our own existence, our significance, and the significance of the universe itself, our conclusions should be based on empirical knowledge. A truly open mind means forcing our imaginations to conform to the evidence of reality, and not vice versa, whether or not we like the implications.” IfsShouldMindMeanRealityUniverseWishImaginationExistenceDrawsEvidencePhilosophicalVicesConclusionSignificanceConformOpen MindImplicationsVice Versa Book:A Universe From Nothing Source: A Universe From Nothing
“Cruelty to animals is one of the most significant vices of a low and ignoble people. Wherever one notices them, they constitute a sign of ignorance and brutality which cannot be painted over even by all the evidence of wealth and luxury.” PeopleWealthAnimalIgnoranceLowsEvidenceVicesSignificantCrueltyLuxuryAnimal RightsBrutalityAnimal WelfareAnimal CrueltyAnimal WorldIgnobleCruel WorldHuman CrueltyAnimals And Society Author:Alexander von Humboldt