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Opinion Quotes

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Opinion Quotes

“To no circumstance is the wide diffusion of error in the world more owing than to our habit of adopting conclusions from insufficiently established data. An indispensable preliminary, then, in every investigation, is to get at facts. Until these are arrived at, every opinion, theory, or system, however ingeniously framed, must necessarily rest upon an uncertain basis.”

World Facts Opinion Theory Habit Circumstances Bases Errors Wide Conclusion Data Investigation Uncertain Indispensable Framed Owing Adopting Diffusion

Author:Christian Nestell Bovee

“In living literature no person is a competent judge but of works written in his own language. I have expressed my opinion concerning a number of English writers; it is very possible that I may be mistaken, that my admiration and my censure may be equally misplaced, and that my conclusions may appear impertinent and ridiculous on the other side of the Channel.”

May Persons Literature Language Sides Numbers Opinion Written Judging Ridiculous Conclusion Admiration Mistaken Competent Censure Misplaced

Author:François-René de Chateaubriand

“The people, the ultimate governors, must have absolute freedom of, and therefore privacy of, their individual opinions and beliefs regardless of how suspect or strange they may appear to others. Ancillary to that principle is the conclusion that an individual must also have absolute privacy over whatever information he may generate in the course of testing his opinions and beliefs.”

“Persecution always says, 'I know the consequences of your opinion better than you know them yourselves.' But the language of toleration was always amicable, liberal, and just: it confessed its doubts, and acknowledged its ignorance ... Persecution had always reasoned from cause to effect, from opinion to action, [that such an opinion would invariably lead to but one action], which proved generally erroneous; while toleration led us invariably to form just conclusions, by judging from actions and not from opinions.”

Knows Action Form Language Causes Opinion Doubt Effects Ignorance Judging Consequence Conclusion Persecution Better Than You Toleration

Author:Charles James Fox

“Question your thoughts. Question your stories. Question your assumptions. Question your opinions. Question your conclusions. Question them all into utter emptiness, stillness and joy. The keys to freedom are in your hands. Use them.”

Stories Use Hands Joy Freedom Opinion Keys Conclusion Assumption Emptiness Stillness

Author:Adyashanti

“At last gleams of light have come, and I am almost convinced (quite contrary to opinion I started with) that species are not (it is like confessing a murder) immutable. Heaven forfend me from Lamarck nonsense of a 'tendency to progression', 'adaptations from the slow willing of animals', &c! But the conclusions I am led to are not widely different from his; though the means of change are wholly so. I think I have found out (here's presumption!) the simple way by which species become exquisitely adapted to various ends.”

Source: Charles Darwin's Works: The life and letters of Charles Darwin... ed. by his son, Francis Darwin. 2v

“[Could] motor cars could be produced [in a country like Germany] and sold in competition in the American market . . . .In my opinion it is impossible to reach the conclusion that competition from without can ever be any factor whatsoever?”

Country Opinion Impossible Car Competition Factors Conclusion Germany Motor Motor Cars

Author:Alfred P. Sloan

“The human understanding when it has once adopted an opinion (either as being the received opinion or as being agreeable to itself) draws all things else to support and agree with it. And though there be a greater number and weight of instances to be found on the other side, yet these it either neglects and despises, or else by some distinction sets aside and rejects, in order that by this great and pernicious predetermination the authority of its former conclusions may remain inviolate.”

Source: The Works of Francis Bacon

“In almost every country there are elements of opinion which would welcome such a conclusion because they wish to return to the politics of the balance of power, unrestricted and unregulated armaments, international anarchy, and preparation for war.”

War Country Wish Opinion Return Balance Elements International Conclusion Welcome Preparation Anarchy Armament Balance Of Power

Author:Arthur Henderson

“Dr. Arnold . . . the admired reformer of public schools, came across some cranks who thought it a mistake to flog boys. Anyone reading his outburst of furious indignation against this opinion will be forced to the conclusion that he enjoyed inflicting floggings.”

School Reading Mistake Opinion Boys Conclusion Enjoyed Drs Public School Furious Indignation Reformers Crank Outburst Flogging

Book:Unpopular Essays

Source: Unpopular Essays