Francis Collins Quotes

The division between faith and reason is a half-measure, till it is frankly admitted that faith has to do with fiction, and reason with fact.

Belief begins where science leaves off and ends where science begins.

Indeed, in view of its function, religion stands in greater need of a rational foundation of its ultimate principles than even the dogmas of science.

Indeed heresies are themselves instigated by philosophy.

Science rests on reason and experiment, and can meet an opponent with calmness; but a belief is always sensitive.

It is wrong always, everywhere, and for everyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence.

The faith that stands on authority is not faith.

The typical person has no trouble believing without knowing. What people need to realize is simply that you do not need to believe to know.

Philosophy is empty if it isn't based on science. Science discovers, philosophy interprets.

Science adjusts its views based on what's observed Faith is the denial of observation so that belief can be preserved.

Faith strikes me as intellectual laziness, but I don't argue with it - especially as I am rarely in a position to prove that it is mistaken. Negative proof is usually impossible.

Belief has no place as far as science reaches, and may be first permitted to take root where science stops.

On the road halfway between faith and criticism stands the inn of reason. Reason is faith in what can be understood without faith, but it's still a faith, since to understand presupposes that there's something understandable.

Most institutions demand unqualified faith; but the institution of science makes skepticism a virtue.

I know of no society in human history that ever suffered because its people became too desirous of evidence in support of their core beliefs.

Truths turn into dogmas the instant that they are disputed. Thus every man who utters a doubt defines a religion.

Man's principle trait is a readiness to believe anything. Otherwise, how could the Church have survived for almost two thousand years in the absense of universal gullibility?

During the last century, and part of the one before, it was widely held that there was an unreconcilable conflict between knowledge and belief.

For ages, a deadly conflict has been waged between a few brave men and women of thought and genius upon the one side, and the great ignorant religious mass on the other. This is the war between Science and Faith. The few have appealed to reason, to honor, to law, to freedom, to the known, and to happiness here in this world. The many have appealed to prejudice, to fear, to miracle, to slavery, to the unknown, and to misery hereafter. The few have said "Think" The many have said "Believe!"

I can believe things that are true and things that aren't true and I can believe things where nobody knows if they're true or not.

It is therefore worthwhile, to search out the bounds between opinion and knowledge; and examine by what measures, in things, whereof we have no certain knowledge, we ought to regulate our assent, and moderate our persuasions.

No, our science is no illusion. But an illusion it would be to suppose that what science cannot give us we can get elsewhere.

Truth does not demand belief.

The agnostic does not simply say, "l do not know." He goes another step, and he says, with great emphasis, that you do not know. He insists that you are trading on the ignorance of others, and on the fear of others. He is not satisfied with saying that you do not know, -- he demonstrates that you do not know, and he drives you from the field of fact -- he drives you from the realm of reason -- he drives you from the light, into the darkness of conjecture -- into the world of dreams and shadows, and he compels you to say, at last, that your faith has no foundation in fact.

He who thinks half-heartedly will not believe in God; but he who really thinks has to believe in God.