Michel de Montaigne Quotes

The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.

Credulity is the sister of innocence.

I never cease being dumbfounded by the unbelievable things people believe.

He doubts nothing who knows nothing.

The primitive simplicity of their minds renders them a more easy prey to a big lie than a small one.

The most innocent heart is generally the most credulous.

Nothing convinces persons of a weak understanding so effectually, as what they do not comprehend.

Credulity is always a ridiculous, often a dangerous failing: it has made of many a clever man, a fool; and of many a good man, a knave.

I was so gullible as a kid.

A sublime faith in human imbecility has seldom led those who cherish it astray.

A little credulity helps one on through life very smoothly.

Men are so simple and yield so readily to the desires of the moment that he who will trick will always find another who will suffer to be tricked.

There are more fools than knaves in the world, else the knaves would not have enough to live upon.

It is the fool who thinks he cannot be fooled.

The only disadvantage of an honest heart is credulity.

Credulity is the man’s weakness, but the child’s strength.

Those who know nothing must believe everything.

People are stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because people are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want to believe it's true, or because they are afraid it might be true. People’s heads are full of knowledge, facts, and beliefs, and most of it is false, yet they think it all true. People are stupid; they can only rarely tell the difference between a lie and the truth, and yet they are confident they can, and so are all the easier to fool.

The mind conscious of innocence despises false reports: but we are a set always ready to believe a scandal.

Our credulity is greatest concerning the things we know least about.

Some people will believe anything if you whisper it to them.

Incredulity is the wisdom of the fool.

It is hard and perhaps impossible for many people to recognize the difference between innocence and naiveté.

Who doesn't know anything, has to believe everything.

Credulity is always ridiculous.