Clean Quote by Allen Johnson
“A mind devoid of prepossessions is likely to be devoid of all mental furniture. And the historian who thinks that he can clean his mind as he would a slate with a wet sponge, is ignorant of the simplest facts of mental life.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Philosophy of Mind, 2015
Preconceptions cloud judgment; attempting to erase them is impossible because they shape perception.
In simple terms: Ideas shape how we think; you can't fully clear your mind.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and question your biases.
Themes
bias
perception
knowledge
history
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
essay
reflective
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- personal reflection
- critical thinking
Key Concepts
cognitive psychology
epistemology
historical analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- What biases influence your decisions?
- Can you ever think without preconceptions?
A Different Perspective
Assumes all mental content is bias, ignoring neutral knowledge.
![“I walked all around it [the Guggenheim Bilbao] and couldn't find one clear, clean shot. To make things worse, the weather was lousy. Nothing about this rang commercial money shot. In a situation like this there's only one thing to do: forget about pleasing editors, please yourself.” quote by Robert Polidori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/375/robert-polidori-55002_clean_i-walked-all-around-it-the-guggenheim-bi_9097.jpg)
