Any doctrine that will not bear investigation is not a fit…
““Any doctrine that will not bear investigation is not a fit tenant for the mind of an honest man. Any doctrine that will not bear investigation is not a fit tenant for the mind of an honest man. Any man who is afraid to have his doctrine investigated is not only a coward but a hypocrite.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Ideas must withstand scrutiny; avoiding investigation shows cowardice and hypocrisy.
In simple terms: Test ideas, avoid blind faith.
Demand evidence for beliefs.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- policy making
- personal belief systems
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How to handle deeply held untestable beliefs?
- What protects societies from endless doubt?
Some doctrines resist testing for social stability.