Thomas Merton Quotes

The skeptic does not mean him who doubts, but him who investigates or researches, as opposed to him who asserts and thinks that he has found.

That's something I learned as a philosophy major: The philosophy ethos is, always question, never rest.

Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in their readiness to doubt.

Buddha urged people to investigate things - he didn't just command them to believe.

William James used to preach the "will-to-believe." For my part, I should wish to preach the "will-to-doubt." None of our beliefs are quite true; all at least have a penumbra of vagueness and error. What is wanted is not the will to believe, but the will to find out, which is the exact opposite.

I doubt the fact, to begin with, but if it be so even, what is this but in grand words asking me to believe a thing because I like it.

The path of sound credence is through the thick forest of skepticism.

'UFO's' attitude toward the subject is very similar to mine. It's not an advocacy; its philosophy is more 'I want to believe this, but I want it proved.'

The first precept was never to accept a thing as true until I knew it as such without a single doubt.

To become properly acquainted with a truth, we must first have disbelieved it, and disputed against it.

In principle, skeptics are neither closed-minded nor cynical. We are curious but cautious.

All that I say is, examine, inquire. Look into the nature of things. Search out the grounds of your opinions, the for and against. Know why you believe, understand what you believe, and possess a reason for the faith that is in you.

Constant and frequent questioning is the first key to wisdom … For through doubting we are led to inquire, and by inquiry we perceive the truth.

A healthy skepticism, regularly exercised…

My only weapon is the question.

Doubt, indulged and cherished, is in danger of becoming denial; but if honest, and bent on thorough investigation, it may soon lead to full establishment of the truth.

I hate doubt, yet I am certain that doubt is the only way to approach anything worth believing in.

Never believe what you cannot doubt.

Belief is desecrated when given to unproved and unquestioned statements for the solace and private pleasure of the believer . . . It is wrong always, everywhere, and for every one, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence.

To deny, to believe, and to doubt well, are to a man what the race is to a horse.

Basically, the Buddhist attitude is that you should not accept certain things through sheer faith. And for that you need a skeptical attitude. Buddha himself made this clear to his followers. He said you should not accept those things I taught out of respect for me, but rather through investigation by yourself.

It is not by believing but by doubting that one can attain to the truth, which is ever changing form and condition.

First doubt, then inquire, then discover. This has been the process with all our great thinkers.

The "passion for incredulity" can produce as much self-deception as the uncritical will to believe.

I’m a skeptic not because I do not want to believe, but because I want to know.