Francois de La Rochefoucauld Quotes

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

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

Moral certainty can deafen people to any truth other than their own.

Ignorance is stubborn and prejudice is hard.

If one can only see things according to one's own belief system, one is destined to become virtually deaf, dumb, and blind.

It comes to pass that men do so magnify their own opinions, and are as censorious of any that differ from them in lesser things

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

Firmness or stiffness of the mind is not from adherence to truth, but submission to prejudice.

To be prejudiced is always to be weak

Narrowness of mind is often the cause of obstinacy; we do not easily believe beyond what we see.

Smallness of mind is the cause of stubbornness, and we do not credit readily what is beyond our view.

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.

Intolerance betrays want of faith in one's cause.

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

Mediocre minds usually dismiss anything which reaches beyond their own understanding.

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.

Like all weak men he laid an exaggerated stress on not changing one's mind.

The mind of a bigot to the pupil of the eye; the more light you pour on it, the more it contracts.

The greater the ignorance the greater the dogmatism.

Little men with little minds and little imaginations go through life in little ruts, smugly resisting all changes which would jar their little worlds.

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

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

The spirit of sect and bigotry has planted its hoof amid the stars. You have only to discuss the problem, whether the stars are inhabited or not, in order to discover it.

Extremists think "communication" means agreeing with them.