James Payn Quotes

Have no respect for the authority of others, for there are always contrary authorities to be found.

Skepticism is the first step on the road to philosophy.

… another man‘s opinion rarely convinces.

The great benefit of philosophy, which is also its great weakness, is that all its steps are taken in the spirit of doubt.

We need to take a step back and realize that not everything we encounter is true. You don't want to be gullibly accepting everything as true, but you don't want to be cynically rejecting everything as false. You want to take your time to evaluate the information.

It is not proof that I sought. I, of all men, know that proof is but a fallacy invented by man to justify to himself and his fellows his own crass lust and folly.

Philosophy can be compared to some powders that are so corrosive that, after they have eaten away the infected flesh of a wound, they then devour the living flesh, rot the bones, and penetrate to the very marrow. Philosophy at first refutes errors. But if it is not stopped at this point, it goes on to attack truths. And when it is left on its own, it goes so far that it no longer knows where it is and can find no stopping place.

Literary criticism has about it neither rigour nor proof. Where it is honest, it is passionate, private experience seeking to persuade.

Finding bad reasons for what one believes for other bad reasons - that's philosophy.

The best design teams are not people who are exactly the same...otherwise you're just sitting and telling, 'You're fabulous.' 'No, you're fabulous.'

He thinks he believes only what he sees, but he is much better at believing than at seeing.

Never believe what you cannot doubt.

Like all religions, Reason presents itself as the solution to the problems it has created

Your job as a scientist is to figure out how you're fooling yourself.

The genuine rationalist does not think that he or anyone else is in possession of the truth; nor does he think that mere criticism as such helps us achieve new ideas. But he does think that, in the sphere of ideas, only critical discussion can help us sort the wheat from the chaff.

Skepticism is not a position; it's a process.

That an error made on your own is safer than ten truths accepted on faith, because the first leaves you the means to correct it but the second destroys your capacity to distinguish truth from error.

"You cannot believe what you are saying." "Well, no. Hardly ever. But the philosopher is like the poet. The latter composes ideal letters for an ideal nymph, only to plumb with his words the depths of passion. The philosopher tests the coldness of his gaze, to see how far he can undermine the fortress of bigotry."

It is said that ridicule is the test of truth: it is never applied, but when we wish to deceive ourselves.

Reason is itself a matter of faith. It is an act of faith to assert that our thoughts have any relation to reality at all.

In place of practising wholesome self-abnegation, we ever make the wish the father to the thought: we receive as friendly that which agrees with, we resist with dislike that which opposes us; whereas the very reverse is required by every dictate of common sense.

If I were to give one piece of advice, I would say to never accept anything that you hear or see at face value. As a general rule of thumb, then the more you question, the better.

When you cannot answer a skeptic, be content to wait for more light; but never forsake a great principle.

How many times have I told you not to believe everything you hear? Seek truth for yourself.