Elif Safak Quotes

A man who does not trust himself will never really trust anybody.

Sometimes I doubt, and sometimes I believe. I like not making myself believe when I am doubting and not making myself doubt when I am believing.

The confidence in another man's virtue is no light evidence of a man's own, and God willingly favors such a confidence.

Do not let yourself be tainted with a barren skepticism.

I consider myself to be a relatively sceptical person. I like to see evidence for myself, and try to avoid speculating beyond available evidence. But I also have to accept some things on trust.

He that believes all misseth; he that believes nothing, hits not.

I think the appropriate kind of skepticism is this: you've got to be asking questions all the time, you've also got to make sure that you're doing so in the spirit of genuinely wanting to find the answers - and that also means being open. I battle with this: I know I tend to be very skeptical and as a result, I veer towards the dismissive. But being aware of the tendency, I like to challenge my own skepticism and make sure it's not just knee-jerk. You need to be skeptical towards yourself as well. When you're only skeptical outwards you've got an unbalanced skepticism.

If you haven't doubted, you probably haven't thought very hard about what you believe.

To ride a bicycle properly is very like a love affair-chiefly it is a matter of faith. Believe you do it, and the thing is done; doubt, and, for the life of you, you cannot.

Though as he'd say, what is 'belief' but a willingness to suspend the negatives?

If you can't fully believe in your ideas, it very quickly communicates to a group of actors who need something to hold onto. They need to believe that whatever criticism, whatever comment is received, is meant.

He who closes his ears to the views of others shows little confidence in the integrity of his own views.

I had a lot of self-confidence.

I have written too much history to have faith in it; and if anyone thinks I'm wrong, I am inclined to agree with him.

The relationship between commitment and doubt is by no means an antagonistic one. Commitment is healthiest when it's not without doubt but in spite of doubt.

It is easier to believe than to doubt.

Blind faith in your leaders, or in anything, will get you killed.

I was raised with the notion that it was OK to ask questions, and it was OK to say, I'm not sure. I believe, but I'm not quite so certain about the resurrection.

Doubt is the origin of wisdom.

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

There is a cleansing humility about doubt.

I respect and believe skeptics.

Just trust those around you and trust yourself.

Doubt is faith's shadow.