Appearance Quote by Arthur Schopenhauer
“The discovery of truth is prevented more effectively, not by the false appearance things present and which mislead into error, not directly by weakness of the reasoning powers, but by preconceived opinion, by prejudice.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The World as Will and Representation, Arthur Schopenhauer, 1818
Preconceived opinions and prejudice block truth more than weak reasoning or deceptive appearances.
In simple terms: Bias blocks truth more than weak reasoning.
Key Takeaway
Question your assumptions.
Themes
philosophy
epistemology
bias
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- academic research
- news consumption
- personal decisions
- policy making
Key Concepts
prejudice
cognitive bias
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- What biases shape your view?
- How can you test assumptions?
A Different Perspective
Even with strong reasoning, entrenched biases can persist.
![“[T]he appropriate form of address between man and man ought to be, not monsieur, sir, but fellow sufferer, compagnon de miseres.” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/be6/arthur-schopenhauer-226_addresses_t-he-appropriate-form-of-address-between_32897.jpg)
![“[Materialism] seeks the primary and most simple state of matter, and then tries to develop all the others from it; ascending from mere mechanism, to chemism, to polarity, to the vegetable and to the animal kingdom. And if we suppose this to have been done, the last link in the chain would be…” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/88c/arthur-schopenhauer-226_animal-kingdom_materialism-seeks-the-primary-and-most-s_50402.jpg)
