Alfred Russel Wallace Quotes

It is the customary fate of new truths to begin as heresies and end in superstitions.

Knowledge is justified belief.

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

The scientist insists on verification; the religious theologian does not; the philosopher sometimes does and sometimes does not

The fact that a belief has a good moral effect upon a man is no evidence whatsoever in favor of its truth.

I’m a skeptic not because I do not want to believe, but because I want to know.

Never confuse wishes with facts.

Faith is the effort to believe what your common sense tells you is not true.

True science teaches, above all, to doubt

Question everything!

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

The longer you hold a belief, the less likely it is to be true.

Doubt is not an agreeable condition, but certainty is an absurd one.

When hearing something unusual, do not preemptively reject it, for that would be folly. Indeed, horrible things may be true, and familiar and praised things may prove to be lies. Truth is truth unto itself, not because people say it is.

The wonderful thing about science is that in science, faith is shakable.

It is undesirable to believe a proposition when there is no ground whatsoever for supposing it is true.

To accept anything on trust, to preclude critical application and development, is a grievous sin;

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

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

We'd all like to be certain of what we know, but I think the most important question is to ask yourself do you really know what you know?

Truth is about propositions. When it comes to determining truth, it is vital to understand the methods used by individuals in asserting propositions.

Doubt, indulged and cherished, is in danger of becoming denial; but if honest, and bent on thorough investigation, it may soon lead to full establishment of the truth.

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

For dear me, why abandon a belief Merely because it ceases to be true

If anyone has a new idea in this country, there are twice as many people who keep putting a man with a red flag in front of it.