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
We are prone to see what lies behind our eyes, rather than what apprears before them.
Interpretation
We often focus on our internal perceptions rather than the external reality.
This quote by Thomas Huxley reflects on the human tendency to be influenced by personal biases and internal thoughts, which can obscure our perception of the actual world around us. Instead of observing reality as it is, we often interpret and judge based on our own experiences and emotions, leading to a potentially distorted understanding of truth.
In practice
This quote can be used in a discussion about cognitive biases in psychology conferences.
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.
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.
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.
The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of childhood into maturity.
It is the first duty of a hypothesis to be intelligible.
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.
While it is well enough to leave footprints on the sands of time, it is even more important to make sure they point in a commendable direction.
To define yourself is to limit yourself. Without labels you remain the infinite being.
In a crystal we have clear evidence of the existence of a formative life principle, and though we cannot understand the life of a crystal, it is nonetheless a living being
The Catholics have a Pope. Protestants laugh at them, and yet the Pope is capable of intellectual advancement. In addition to this, the Pope is mortal, and the church cannot be afflicted with the same idiot forever. The Protestants have a book for their Pope. The book cannot advance. Year after year, and century after century, the book remains as ignorant as ever.
I believe in clear-cut positions. I think that the most arrogant position is this apparent, multidisciplinary modesty of "what I am saying now is not unconditional, it is just a hypothesis," and so on. It really is a most arrogant position. I think that the only way to be honest and expose yourself to criticism is to state clearly and dogmatically where you are. You must take the risk and have a position.
Life is never fair, and perhaps it is a good thing for most of us that it is not.
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