Critical Inquiry Quotes

Believe those who seek the truth; doubt those who find it.

Another of the qualities of science is that it teaches the value of rational thought, as well as the importance of freedom of thought; the positive results that come from doubting that all the lessons are true... Learn from science that you must doubt the experts. As a matter of fact, I can also define science another way: Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts.

... that maxim of Descartes: "Question everything!" Question everything!

A foolish faith in authority is the worst enemy of truth.

One of the most important aspects of science that I learned from my father was to distrust authority.

One of the very important characteristics of a student is to question. Let the students ask questions.

Instead of assuming everything you're being told is the truth, ask plenty of questions.

Question everything, even if it represents generations of conventional wisdom.

Skepticism, like chastity, should not be relinquished too readily.

There is a fundamental difference between religion, which is based on authority, [and] science, which is based on observation and reason. Science will win because it works.

Exceptional claims, require exceptional evidence.

Questioning is the piety of thought.

Do not allow yourselves to be deceived: Great Minds are Skeptical.

Every man must have the right fearlessly to think independently and express his opinion about what he knows, what he has personally thought about and experienced, and not merely to express with slightly different variations the opinion which has been inculcated in him.

A troublesome question? Those tend to be the only whorthwhile kind.

Any man who stands for progress has to criticize, disbelieve and challenge every item of the old faith. Item by item he has to reason out every nook and corner of the prevailing faith. If after considerable reasoning one is led to believe in any theory or philosophy, his faith is welcomed. His reasoning can be mistaken, wrong, misled and sometimes fallacious. But he is liable to correction because reason is the guiding star of his life. But mere faith and blind faith is dangerous: it dulls the brain, and makes a man reactionary.

Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt.

The philosopher is not a citizen of any community of ideas, that is what makes him a philosopher.

I was asking Charlie the most important questions, and you heard the answers.

It is the duty of every man, as far as his ability extends, to detect and expose delusion and error.

Maintain a constant watch at all times against a dogmatical spirit: fix not your assent to any proposition in a firm and unalterable manner, till you have some firm and unalterable ground for it, and till you have arrived at some clear and sure evidence.

As soon as we abandon our own reason, and are content to rely upon authority, there is no end to our troubles.

Knowledge we have. Anyone who strives for it with particular intensity is suspect of striving against it.

The "passion for incredulity" can produce as much self-deception as the uncritical will to believe.

Well, where there is freedom doubt itself must be free.