Lightness. Let the winds of evidence blow you about as…
““Lightness. Let the winds of evidence blow you about as though you are a leaf, with no direction of your own. Beware lest you fight a rearguard retreat against evidence, grudgingly conceding each foot of ground only forced, feeling cheated. Surrender to the truth as quickly as you can. Do this the instant you realize what you are resisting; the instant you see which quarter the winds of evidence are blowing against you. Be faithless to your cause and betray it to a stronger enemy. If you regard evidence as a constraint and seek to free yourself, you sell yourself into the chains of your whims. For you cannot make a true map of a city by sitting in your bedroom with your eyes shut and drawing lines upon paper according to impulse. You must walk through the city and draw lines on paper that correspond with what you see. If seeing the city unclearly, you think you can shift line just a little to the right, just a little to the left, according to caprice this is just the same mistake.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Evidence should guide belief; clinging to preconceived notions hinders truth; adapt quickly to new data
In simple terms: Follow evidence, not ego
Key Takeaway
Update beliefs promptly when confronted with contrary evidence
Themes
critical thinking
epistemology
flexibility
Mood
analytical
cautious
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- scientific research
- policy making
- personal decision making
Key Concepts
bias
evidence
truth-seeking
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence would make you revise a core belief?
- How do you guard against bias in daily choices?
A Different Perspective
Changing deeply held beliefs can be psychologically painful