In like manner, if I let myself believe anything on…
““In like manner, if I let myself believe anything on insufficient evidence, there may be no great harm done by the mere belief; it may be true after all, or I may never have occasion to exhibit it in outward acts. But I cannot help doing this great wrong towards Man, that I make myself credulous. The danger to society is not merely that it should believe wrong things, though that is great enough; but that it should become credulous, and lose the habit of testing things and inquiring into them; for then it must sink back into savagery.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Clifford warns that believing without evidence erodes critical thinking, leading society toward superstition and moral decline.
In simple terms: Believing without proof harms reasoning and society.
Key Takeaway
Demand evidence before accepting claims.
Themes
philosophy
science
critical thinking
ethics
skepticism
Mood
cautious
analytical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
educational
persuasive
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- public policy
- education reform
Key Concepts
epistemology
credulity
social responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance skepticism with open‑mindedness?
- When is belief without proof justified?
A Different Perspective
The argument may underestimate the role of faith or intuition in human experience.