Clarence Darrow Quotes

The belief that there is only one truth, and that oneself is in possession of it, is the root of all evil in the world.

I learned that very often the most intolerant and narrow-minded people are the ones who congratulate themselves on their tolerance and open-mindedness.

The persecuting spirit has its origin... in the assumption that one's own opinions are infallibly correct.

Self-righteousness has killed more people than smoking.

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.

Intolerance is a form of egotism, and to condemn egotism intolerantly is to share it.

The greater the ignorance the greater the dogmatism.

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

Imagine the people who believe such things and who are not ashamed to ignore, totally, all the patient findings of thinking minds through all the centuries since the Bible was written. And it is these ignorant people, the most uneducated, the most unimaginative, the most unthinking among us, who would make themselves the guides and leaders of us all; who would force their feeble and childish beliefs on us; who would invade our schools and libraries and homes.

People are so opinionated about things, and they don't even know what they're talking about, or can't even do it themselves.

It is not possible to unknow what you do know - the result of that is fanaticism.

Intolerance is the most socially acceptable form of egotism, for it permits us to assume superiority without personal boasting.

Those people who shun us just because of the label we're on, or the fact that we've got a video out there that's getting us somewhere, are only limiting themselves, because they aren't keeping an open mind.

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

Ignorance is stubborn and prejudice is hard.

I just think that most of the people are very close minded.

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

Convictions are more dangerous foes of truth than lies.

Bigot: One who is obstinately and zealously attached to an opinion that you do not entertain.

Opinions founded on prejudice are always sustained with the greatest violence.

There are two things which cannot be attacked in front: ignorance and narrow-mindedness.

Ignorance and fanaticism are ever busy and need feeding.

Superstition is our great enemy, but bigotry is worse.

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.

Dislike of another’s opinions and beliefs neither justifies our own nor makes us more certain of them: and to transfer the repugnance to the person himself is a mark of a vulgar mind.