John Lancaster Spalding Quotes

Namely, we have no right to believe a thing true because everybody says so unless there are good grounds for believing that some one person at least has the means of knowing what is true, and is speaking the truth so far as he knows it.

Proof tells us where to concentrate our doubts.

Men are more apt to be mistaken in their generalizations than in their particular observations.

Ignorance is less remote from the truth than prejudice.

The things of which we want the proof are those we know the best.

If people are informed they will do the right thing. It's when they are not informed that they become hostages to prejudice.

As soon as you think you know someone else's truth better than they do, you are in deep water.

The discovery of truth is prevented more effectively, not by the false appearance things present and which mislead into error, not directly by weakness of the reasoning powers, but by preconceived opinion, by prejudice.

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.

Preconceived notions are the locks on the door to wisdom.

It's sad that we never get trained to leave assumptions behind.

Conventional dogmas, even if endowed with the authority of an Aristotle - ancient or modern - must be tested vigorously. If they are found wanting, we need not bother with them. But if they are found to be substantially correct, we may not overlook them.

A wise man proportions his belief to the evidence.

Knowledge consists in understanding the evidence that establishes the fact, not in the belief that it is a fact.

There are two kinds of people in the world: the conscious and the unconscious dogmatists. I have always found that the unconscious dogmatists were by far the most dogmatic.

He who knows only his own side of the case, knows little of that.

Opinions should not be allowed to become conclusions

You will never succeed in getting at the truth if you know, ahead of time, what the truth ought to be

To prejudge other men's notions before we have looked into them is not to show the darkness but to put out our own eyes.

Science is what you know. Philosophy is what you don't know.

Examine by every means each thing how it is clear, neither putting greater faith in anything seen than in what is heard, nor in a thundering sound more than in the clear assertions of the tongue, nor keep from trusting any of the other members in which there lies means of knowledge, but know each thing in the way in which it is clear.

Knowledge is justified belief.

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

In my opinion, it helps enormously to know why something is true, rather than being told it is true, for why should you believe me? Never believe anything on the authority of a single person but seek confirmation — and reason is the best confirmation

Some people have facts; these can be proven. Some people have theories; these can be disproven. But people with opinions are mindless and have their minds made up about it.