“I believe in everything — I am only looking for proofs.”

— Carl Sandburg

Incidentals (1904); this is sometimes paraphrased: "I am an idealist. I believe in everything — I am only looking for proofs."
Context: Back of every mistaken venture and defeat is the laughter of wisdom, if you listen. Every blunder behind us is giving a cheer for us, and only for those who were willing to fail are the dangers and splendors of life. To be a good loser is to learn how to win. I was sure there are ten men in me and I do not know or understand one of them. I could safely declare, I am an idealist. A Parisian cynic says "I believe in nothing. I am looking for clues." My statement would be : I believe in everything — I am only looking for proofs.

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Carl Sandburg 62

American writer and editor 1878–1967

Sahl al-Tustari (818–896) arabian Sufi, Islamic theologian

Sufism: The Formative Period, p. 38

“I am an anarchist, a political and social Huguenot; I deny everything and affirm naught but myself: because the sole truth of which I have material and moral proof and tangible, comprehensible and intelligible evidence, the only real, startling, non-arbitrary truth not susceptible to interpretation, is myself. I am. There I have a positive fact. Everything else is abstraction and, in mathematics, would be designated as "x", and unknown quantity; and I need not trouble myself with it.”

Anselme Bellegarrigue book Anarchist Manifesto

Anarchist Manifesto (1850)

“Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye
Than twenty of their swords: look thou but sweet,
And I am proof against their enmity.”

William Shakespeare book Romeo and Juliet

Source: Romeo and Juliet

“When I happen to be busy, I never give a moment's thought to the "meaning" of anything, particularly of whatever it is I am doing. A proof that the secret of everything is in action and not abstention, that fatal cause of consciousness.”

Emil M. Cioran book The Trouble With Being Born

The Trouble With Being Born (1973)

“I don't believe Fermat had a proof. I think he fooled himself into thinking he had a proof.”

Andrew Wiles (1953) British mathematician

Nova Interview

“I think that I am being blamed for everything. I am basically there to make money. I cannot and do not look at the social consequences of what I do.”

George Soros (1930) Hungarian-American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist

60 Minutes interview (1998)

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen. Not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

Clive Staples Lewis (1898–1963) Christian apologist, novelist, and Medievalist

"Is Theology Poetry?" (1945)

“Though everything is identical with itself, only I am me.”

Derek Parfit book Reasons and Persons

Source: Reasons and Persons (1984), p. 25

“I can't do it, I can't conceive
You're everything you're trying to make me believe 'Cause this show is too well designed
Too well to be held with only me in mind And how, how am I different?
How, how am I different?”

Aimee Mann (1960) American indie rock singer-songwriter (born 1960)

"How Am I Different" (co-written with Jon Brion) · Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW7gUnN7yxo
Song lyrics, Bachelor No. 2 or, the Last Remains of the Dodo (2000)

“The interest I have in believing in something is not a proof that the something exists.”

Jerry Coyne book Faith vs. Fact: Why Science and Religion are Incompatible

Source: Faith vs. Fact (2015), p. 29 (quoting Voltaire)

“I believe in everything — I am only looking for proofs.”

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Carl Sandburg 62

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