The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd; indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widespread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible.
Bertrand Russell in Marriage and Morals (1929)
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Related quotes
The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd.
quote by Bertrand Russell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In college, in the early 1950s, I began to learn a little about how science works, the secrets of its great success, how rigorous the standards of evidence must be if we are really to know something is true, how many false starts and dead ends have plagued human thinking, how our biases can colour our interpretation of evidence, and how often belief systems widely held and supported by the political, religious and academic hierarchies turn out to be not just slightly in error, but grotesquely wrong.
Carl Sagan in The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark
Submitted by Catalin Popescu
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Science... warns me to be careful how I adopt a view which jumps with my preconceptions, and to require stronger evidence for such belief than for one to which I was previously hostile. My business is to teach my aspirations to conform themselves to fact, not to try and make facts harmonize with my aspirations.
quote by Thomas H. Huxley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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However Absurd
Ears twitch, like a dog, breaking eggs in a dish.
Do not mock me when I say this is not a lie.
Its funny thing, half serious, with our hands on our ears.
Living dreams with mouths ajar, wide awake, we go to sleep.
However absurd, however absurd... it may seem.
However absurd, however absurd... it may seem.
Something special between us, when we mmade love the game was over.
I couldnt say the words, words wouldnt get ny feelings through,
So I keep talking to you...
However absurd, however absurd... it may seem.
However absurd, however absurd... it may seem.
Custom made dinosaurs, too late now, for a change.
Everything is under the sun, but nothing is for keeps...
However absurd, however absurd... it may seem.
However absurd, however absurd... it may seem.
song performed by by Paul McCartney
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Credulity is belief in slight evidence, with no evidence, or against evidence.
quote by Tryon Edwards
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In the ordinary affairs of life we do not require nor expect demonstrative evidence, because it is inconsistent with the nature of matters of fact, and to insist on its production would be unreasonable and absurd.
quote by Simon Greenleaf
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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IF I Wished to Kiss Your Lips
That's absolutely foolish of you,
To believe I would have 'no' opinion...
After telling you twice,
I wish I could see more of your eyes.
I think they are beautiful.
But those eyelashes.
They are much too long.
If the flies are using them to land...
AND take off as if you provide them with,
A runway.
And I am looking at this as if,
You are pretending not to notice it.
And you expect me not to express my opinion?
That's absolutely foolish of you,
To believe I would have 'no' opinion...
After telling you twice,
I wish I could see more of your eyes.
I think they are beautiful.
I do.
I said nothing about you,
Having too much makeup on.
Did I?
However,
IF I wished to kiss your lips...
I wouldn't know whether or not,
I should first make a reservation.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Some critics of my work took the view that a satirist should defer to the finer feelings of his readers and respect widely held beliefs.
While it's very hard to know exactly how to measure public opinion there, because there's no really good polling, the fact of the matter is that in all the polls I've seen the vast majority of the Iraqis prefer to be free and are pleased that the coalition freed them.
quote by Paul Bremer
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Eluding Truth
Eluding truth,
Does not make it insignificant.
Nor does the attempt to ignore it completely,
Change the evidence of its existence.
Contemplatng to alter it,
To keep it hidden...
From one's consciousness...
Is a foolish proposition.
Since mankind is in a precarious situation...
When coming face to face with truth,
And still proceeds to try to manipulate fate...
Without faith in The Creator to guide the way.
Eluding truth,
Does not make it insignificant.
Nor does the attempt to ignore it completely,
Change the evidence of its existence.
There is no escaping,
From that which initiated the process of one's making!
Even the wisdom one shows,
Has been bestowed by 'that' which is ALL Knowing!
How foolish can an ignorance get?
We are in the midst of witnessing it!
Or...
Maybe all of it is intentional and not ignorance.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Neither the wording of the amendment itself nor common practice challenged the widely held belief that government guaranteed freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.
quote by Linda Chavez
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Misquotation is, in fact, the pride and privilege of the learned. A widely- read man never quotes accurately, for the rather obvious reason that he has read too widely.
quote by Hesketh Pearson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Silliness Is My Middle Name
Silliness is my middle name
and silliness is my claim to fame.
Therefore, if you want a laugh or two
just come along to Dodgy Dave’s grotto
and he will make you smile.
He may look like a beanpole
with a dog collar around his neck,
but you will be guaranteed
he will never use the phrase “Oh Heck”.
He has loads of silly rhymes
that make no sense at all.
His wife thinks he was born
and they live down on the Funny Farm.
This poem was written
to make no sense at all.
Just another bit of his silliness
he likes to share with one and all.
poem by David Harris
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Misquotation is, in fact, the pride and privilege of the learned. A widely- read man never quotes accurately, for the rather obvious reason that he has read too widely.
Hesketh Pearson in Common Misquotations (1934)
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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How beautiful is
How beautiful is the Belief, when we belief in the God
How beautiful are the Creatures, when we belief in the Creator
How beautiful is the Motherhood, when we belief in the Sacrifices
How beautiful is the Fatherhood, when we belief in the Battles
How beautiful is the Childhood, when we belief in the Innocence
How beautiful is the Dream, when we belief in the Ambition
How beautiful is the Contentment, when we belief in the Simplicity
How beautiful is the Life, when we belief in the dead
How beautiful is the Love, when we belief in the Care
How beautiful is the Happiness, when we belief in the Sadness
How beautiful is the Relationships, when we belief in the Tender
How beautiful is the Fruit, when we belief in the Farming
How beautiful is the Confidence, when we belief in Our self
How beautiful is the Beauty, when we belief in Our eyes
How beautiful is the World, when we belief in Peace
How beautiful is the Friendship, when we belief in Brotherhood
How beautiful is the Marriage, when we belief in Sharing
How beautiful is the World, when we belief in the Peace
poem by Mohammed AlBalushi
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It is proof of a base and low mind for one to wish to think with the masses or majority, merely because the majority is the majority. Truth does not change because it is, or is not, believed by a majority of the people.
quote by Giordano Bruno
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Indeed, I was unable to find any evidence whatsoever of the occurrence of a drastic evolutionary acceleration and genetic reconstruction in widespread, populous species.
quote by Ernst Mayr
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The more the fruits of knowledge become accessible to men, the more widespread is the decline of religious belief.
Sigmund Freud in The Future of an Illusion (1927)
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The latest wrinkle is on wrinkles. There is a widespread belief that women can't grow old in television news.
quote by Jessica Savitch
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Validation Of Truth
She assumes many things
that she believes to be fact
as she thinks
perceives
so must it be
an absolute
for her
there can be
no other possibilities
no exceptions
in her mood changing reality
she remains
at the centre
of her world
a belief system
based upon presumptions
without foundation
believed without
actual evidence
mere inference
conclusions drawn
without evidence
lacking reasoning
no logical process
applied reasoning
premise to conclusion
a reasoning process
lacking logic is
incapable of comprehension
validation to confirm establish truth
would be an ongoing redundant task
poem by Terence George Craddock
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