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Lessing, Gotthold -- Nathan the Wise, Act 4, sc. 2 (1779)

The worst of superstitions is to think One’s own most bearable. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729-1781) German playwright, philosopher, dramiturg, writerNathan the Wise, Act 4, sc. 2 (1779) Alt. trans.:...

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France, Anatole -- Speech, Académie Française (24 Dec 1896)

To accomplish great things we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe. Anatole France (1844-1924) French poet, journalist, novelist, Nobel Laureate [pseud. of...

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Maugham, W. Somerset -- A Writer’s Notebook (1949)

If forty million people say a foolish thing it does not become a wise one, but the wise man is foolish to give them the lie. W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) English novelist and playwright [William...

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Lowell, James Russell -- Among My Books (1870)

Toward no crime have men shown themselves so cold-bloodedly cruel as in punishing differences of belief. James Russell Lowell (1819-1891) American diplomat, essayist, poetAmong My Books (1870)

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HIcks, Bill -- Filling Up the Hump (1993)

“I believe that the Bible is the literal word of God.” And I say no, it’s not, Dad. “Well, I believe that it is.” Well, you know, some people believe they’re Napoleon. That’s fine. Beliefs are neat....

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Holmes, Sr., Oliver Wendell -- The Poet at the Breakfast-Table (1872)

We are all tattooed in our cradles with the beliefs of our tribe; the record may seem superficial, but it is indelible. You cannot educate a man wholly out of the superstitious fears which were...

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Hook, Sydney -- Political Power and Personal Freedom, ch. 28 “Socialism...

More important than any belief a man holds is the way he holds it. Any fool or fanatic can embrace a doctrine. Even if true, it remains a dogma unless it is evaluated in the light of its alternatives,...

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Whedon, Joss -- Serenity (2005)

BOOK: Only one thing is gonna walk you though this, Mal: belief. MAL: You know I always look to you for counsel, but sermons make me sleepy, Shepherd. I ain’t looking for help on high. That’s a long...

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Hume, David -- An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Sec. 10 “Of...

In our reasonings concerning matter of fact, there are all imaginable degrees of assurance, from the highest certainty to the lowest species of moral evidence. A wise man, therefore, proportions his...

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La Fontaine, Jean de -- (Attributed)

Everyone believes very easily whatever they fear or desire. Jean de La Fontaine (1621-1695) French fabulist and poet(Attributed)

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Locke, John -- An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Book 4, ch. 20, “Of...

Earthly minds, like mud walls, resist the strongest batteries: and though, perhaps, sometimes the force of a clear argument may make some impression, yet they nevertheless stand firm, and keep out the...

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Mencken, H.L. -- In Defense of Women (1918)

The curse of man, and the cause of nearly all his woes, is his stupendous capacity for believing the incredible. H.L. Mencken (1880-1956) American writer and journalist [Henry Lewis Mencken]In Defense...

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Bible -- Psalm 42:1

As a hart longs for flowing streams, So longs my soul for thee, O God. The Bible (14th C BC - 2nd C AD) Christian sacred scripturePsalm 42:1 Alt. trans.: As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul...

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Murad, Abdal Hakim -- “Contentions 2,” #87

If religion is too big for us, we should be careful which parts we choose. Abdal Hakim Murad (b. 1960) British Muslim shaykh, researcher, writer, academic [b. Timothy John Winter]“Contentions 2,” #87

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Petit-Senn, Jean-Antoine -- (Attributed)

Let us believe neither half of the good people tell us of ourselves, nor half the evil they say of others. Jean-Antoine Petit-Senn (1792-1870) French-Swiss poet(Attributed)

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Roosevelt, Eleanor -- “The Wisdom of Eleanor Roosevelt” (1963)

I doubt that anyone does not really believe in God. People may think they don’t have any belief, but you will usually find that there is a belief in something beyond himself. In any case, I would not...

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Orwell, George -- “In Front of Your Nose” Tribune (22 Mar 1946)

The point is that we are all capable of believing things which we know to be untrue, and then, when we are finally proved wrong, impudently twisting the facts so as to show that we were right. George...

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Russell, Bertrand -- The Problems of Philosophy, ch. 15 “The Value of...

Another fine quotation from WIST - Wish I'd Said That! . The man who has no tincture of philosophy goes through life imprisoned in the prejudices derived from common sense, from the habitual beliefs of...

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Jung, Carl -- Modern Man in Search of a Soul, ch. 3 [tr. Dell & Baynes (1933)]

We are susceptible only to those suggestions with which we are already secretly in accord. Carl Jung (1875-1961) Swiss psychologistModern Man in Search of a Soul, ch. 3 [tr. Dell & Baynes (1933)]

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Twain, Mark -- Following the Equator, ch. 53 (1897)

If the man doesn’t believe as we do, we say he is a crank, and that settles it. I mean it does nowadays, because now we can’t burn him. Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel...

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