P. J. O'Rourke Quotes

Opinions should not be allowed to become conclusions

Found your opinions on facts, not prejudices. We know too many things that are not true

Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.

Opinion is the death of knowledge.

Values are faithfully applied to the facts before us, while ideology overrides whatever facts call theory into question.

Ignorance is less remote from the truth than prejudice.

Facts matter, especially when they conflict with dogma and preconceived notions. Pretending otherwise has consequences.

You're entitled your own opinions, but you're not entitled to your own facts.

When blithe to argument I come, Though armed with facts, and merry, May Providence protect me from The fool as adversary, Whose mind to him a kingdom is Where reason lacks dominion, Who calls conviction prejudice And prejudice opinion.

Prejudices are what fools use for reason.

Trust and belief are two prime considerations. You must not allow yourself to be opinionated.

I don't listen to opinions.

There's nothing wrong with changing your position to fit the facts; there's everything wrong with changing the facts to fit your position.

Every man has a right to his opinion, but no man has the right to be wrong in his facts.

I used to have so many opinions before I learned the facts.

Two sides to a story exist when evidence exists on both sides of a position. Then, reasonable people may disagree about how to weigh that evidence and what conclusion to form from it. Everyone, of course, is entitled to their own opinion.

I have been saying this from the beginning: people are going to say whatever they want to say or believe whatever they want to believe. I say this to people: stick to the facts.

Bias, like beauty, is often in the eye of the beholder. Facts are your firewall against bias.

The word 'belief' is a difficult thing for me. I don't believe. I must have a reason for a certain hypothesis. Either I know a thing, and then I know it - I don't need to believe it.

You know, people aren't always the most open-minded.

Some readers allow their prejudices to blind them. A good reader knows how to disregard inappropriate responses.

There are two things which cannot be attacked in front: ignorance and narrow-mindedness. They can only be shaken by the simple development of the contrary qualities. They will not bear discussion.

What people call impartiality may simply mean indifference, and what people call partiality may simply mean mental activity.

To doubt everything or to believe everything are two equally convenient solutions; both dispense with the necessity of reflection.

Refusal to believe until proof is given is a rational position; denial of all outside of our own limited experience is absurd.