Thomas Edison said in all seriousness: "There is no…
““Thomas Edison said in all seriousness: "There is no expedient to which a man will not resort to avoid the labour of thinking"-if we bother with facts at all, we hunt like bird dogs after the facts that bolster up what we already think-and ignore all the others! We want only the facts that justify our acts-the facts that fit in conveniently with our wishful thinking and justify our preconceived prejudices! As Andre Maurois put it: "Everything that is in agreement with our personal desires seems true. Everything that is not puts us into a rage." Is it any wonder, then, that we find it so hard to get at the answers to our problems? Wouldn't we have the same trouble trying to solve a second-grade arithmetic problem, if we went ahead on the assumption that two plus two equals five? Yet there are a lot of people in this world who make life a hell for themselves and others by insisting that two plus two equals five-or maybe five hundred!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage critiques confirmation bias, noting people favor facts that support pre‑existing beliefs and ignore contradictory evidence.
In simple terms: People seek facts that fit their wishes.
Key Takeaway
Beware of selective thinking.
Themes
cognition
bias
critical thinking
Mood
skeptical
reflective
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- decision making
- research
- debate
- media consumption
Key Concepts
confirmation bias
motivated reasoning
cognitive dissonance
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you test your own assumptions?
- What facts challenge your views?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑seated beliefs is difficult.