“Next time somebody tells you something that sounds important, think to yourself: 'Is this the kind of thing that people probably know because of evidence? Or is it the kind of thing that people only believe because of tradition, authority or revelation?' And, next time somebody tells you that something is true, why not say to them: 'What kind of evidence is there for that?”

And if they can't give you a good answer, I hope you'll think very carefully before you believe a word they say.
"Good and Bad Reasons for Believing" [open letter to his daughter]
A Devil's Chaplain (2003)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Next time somebody tells you something that sounds important, think to yourself: 'Is this the kind of thing that people…" by Richard Dawkins?
Richard Dawkins photo
Richard Dawkins 322
English ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author 1941

Related quotes

Richard Dawkins photo
Li-Meng Yan photo

“I am waiting to tell all the things I know, provide all the evidence to the U.S. Government, and I want them to understand, and I also want the U.S. people to understand how terrible this is. It is not what you have seen ... This is something very different. We have to chase the true evidence and get the real evidence because this is a key part to stop this pandemic. We don't have much time.”

Li-Meng Yan Chinese ophthalmologist and virologist

Hong Kong virologist claiming coronavirus cover-up tells 'Bill Hemmer Reports': 'We don't have much time' https://www.foxnews.com/media/li-meng-yan-virologist-china-coronavirus-coverup (July 13, 2020)

Oprah Winfrey photo
Ayn Rand photo
Natalie Wynn photo
Bill Clinton photo

“Let me tell you what the facts are. Now, we had a hard time getting those facts into these debates, because they're so inconvenient for the other side. And I admire that about the Republicans: The evidence does not faze them. … They are not bothered at all by the facts. And you've got to kind of give it to them. … They know what they're for.”

Bill Clinton (1946) 42nd President of the United States

Remarks at a Reception for Representative Martin T. Meehan in Lowell, Massachusetts (20 October 2000) http://www.govrecords.org/pd30oc00-statement-on-congressional-action-on-the-foreign-3.html
2000s

Brandon Sanderson photo
Michael Crichton photo
Nora Roberts photo

Related topics