Stephen Jay Gould Quotes

Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear.

Skepticism is a virtue in history as well as in philosophy.

Reason is the test of ridicule, not ridicule the test of truth.

... In a free society, skeptics are the watchdogs against irrationalism - the consumer advocates of ideas. Debunking is not simply the divestment of bunk; its utility is in offering a better alternative, along with a lesson on how thinking goes wrong.

Science is like an inoculation against charlatans who would have you believe whatever it is they tell you.

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.

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

I think what attracts me about the Electric Monk is that it's such an eloquent example of the futility of belief for belief's sake. I mean there's only any point in believing something if it's true.

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

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

Between craft and credulity, the voice of reason is stifled.

Skepticism is not an end in itself; it is a tool for the discovery of truths.

Without the voice of reason, every faith is its own curse.

Rationality is not just something you do so that you can make more money, it is a binding principle. Rationality is a really good idea. You must avoid the nonsense that is conventional in one's own time. It requires developing systems of thought that improve your batting average over time.

Do you come to a philosopher as to a cunning man, to learn something by magic or witchcraft, beyond what can be known by common prudence and discretion?

Skepticism must go hand in hand with rationality. When theories are shown to be false, the correct thing to do is to move on.

My investment of time, as an educator, in my judgment, is best served teaching people how to think about the world around them. Teach them how to pose a question. How to judge whether one thing is true versus another.

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.

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

In the sciences, the authority of thousands of opinions is not worth as much as one tiny spark of reason in an individual man.

[Children] are taught that it is a virtue to accept statements without adequate evidence, which leaves them a prey to quacks of every kind in later life, and makes it very difficult for them to accept the methods of thought which are successful in science.

It's always good in science to say "Well how do you know that?" and "Are you really sure?" and "Could there be an exceptional case?"

An educated mind is practiced in the uses of reason, which inevitably leads to a skeptical outlook.

Scientific research can reduce superstition by encouraging people to think and view things in terms of cause and effect.

The alleged short-cut to knowledge, which is faith, is only a short-circuit destroying the mind