Richard Baxter Quotes

It is from a weakness and smallness of mind that men are opinionated; and we are very loath to believe what we are not able to comprehend.

There are two things which cannot be attacked in front: ignorance and narrow-mindedness.

Those that preach tolerance have become absolutely prescriptive in what's allowed to be thought.

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.

The persecuting spirit has its origin... in the assumption that one's own opinions are infallibly correct.

Intolerance betrays want of faith in one's cause.

One thing about liberals: It doesn't even occur to them that there is another side to an argument. They are so convinced of the righteousness of their own position that it doesn't dawn on them that a reasonable person might have a different viewpoint.

The need to be right is the sign of a vulgar mind.

The less one knows, the more he thinks he knows, and the more willing he is to employ any and all measures to enforce his views upon others.

When we believe ourselves in possession of the only truth, we are likely to be indifferent to common everyday truths.

Intolerance is a form of egotism, and to condemn egotism intolerantly is to share it.

Nothing so obstinately stands in the way of all sorts of progress as pride of opinion. While nothing is so foolish and baseless.

I learned that very often the most intolerant and narrow-minded people are the ones who congratulate themselves on their tolerance and open-mindedness.

The sin of certainty leaves no room for the rest of us.

Opinions founded on prejudice are always sustained with the greatest violence.

Obstinacy and heat of opinion are the surest proof of stupidity.

Failures mire us in dogmatism and tunnel vision

Extremists think "communication" means agreeing with them.

I feel like people are so closed-minded at times.

I think Peter King... he's kind of narrow-minded.

Bigots see something they expect and then they stop thinking about what is in front of them. It's probably how they got to be bigots in the first place.

I'm right, and everyone else is wrong.

No country or people who are slaves to dogma and the dogmatic mentality can progress, and unhappily our country and people have become extraordinarily dogmatic and little-minded

It is not possible to unknow what you do know - the result of that is fanaticism.

In the choice between changing ones mind and proving there's no need to do so, most people get busy on the proof.