It is wrong for a man to say that he is certain of the objective truth of any proposition unless he can produce evidence which logically justifies that certainty.
Thomas HuxleyRead
Every great advance in natural knowledge has involved the absolute rejection of authority.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True scientific progress requires questioning and discarding established authorities.
In this quote, Thomas Huxley emphasizes the importance of skepticism in the pursuit of knowledge. He suggests that significant advancements in science have often come from challenging and rejecting accepted beliefs, rather than merely accepting them based on authority. This appeal to critical thinking encourages individuals to explore and validate ideas independently, leading to deeper understanding and innovation.
Themes
ScienceKnowledgeAuthoritySkepticismProgress
In practice
Example use cases
In a classroom discussion about the Scientific Revolution, this quote can inspire students to think critically about established beliefs.
More from Thomas Huxley
All quotes →The child who has been taught to make an accurate elevation, plan, and section of a pint pot has had an admirable training in accuracy of eye and hand.
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Let us have "sweet girl graduates" by all means. They will be none the less sweet for a little wisdom; and the "golden hair" will not curl less gracefully outside the head by reason of there being brains within.
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It is the first duty of a hypothesis to be intelligible.
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Of the few innocent pleasures left to men past middle life, the jamming of common sense down the throats of fools is perhaps the keenest.
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