--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Science is a willingness to accept facts…" description: "\"Science is a willingness to accept facts even when they are opposed to wishes.\" — B. F. Skinner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a9/b-f-skinner-4812_accepting_science-is-a-willingness-to-accept-facts_1655945.png" --- # Science is a willingness to accept facts even when they… ![“Science is a willingness to accept facts even when they are opposed to wishes.” quote by B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a9/b-f-skinner-4812_accepting_science-is-a-willingness-to-accept-facts_1655945.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a9/b-f-skinner-4812_accepting_science-is-a-willingness-to-accept-facts_1655945.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a9/b-f-skinner-4812_accepting_science-is-a-willingness-to-accept-facts_1655945.png) > “Science is a willingness to accept facts even when they are opposed to wishes.” [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science must accept facts even when they clash with desires. **In simple terms:** Science accepts facts over wishes. Key Takeaway Prioritize evidence over personal bias. Themes science objectivity critical thinking truth Mood analytical skeptical Type scientific educational When to use this quote - research - policy making - education Key Concepts empiricism bias resistance methodology Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle contradictory evidence? - What strategies help maintain objectivity? A Different Perspective People may resist facts that threaten beliefs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Willingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willingness/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [Truthiness is what you want the facts to be as opposed to what the facts are. What feels like the right answer as opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/truthiness-is-what-you-want-the-facts-to-be-as-opposed-to-what-the/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [“Peace is something that comes from within. It is created by your willingness to accept yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-nelson/peace-is-something-that-comes-from-within-it-is-created-by-your/) Jason Nelson > [The willingness to accept responsibility for one's own life is the source from which self-respect springs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/the-willingness-to-accept-responsibility-for-one-s-own-life-is-the/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [Greatness is not the absences of flaws but the willingness to accept and overcome ur flaws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sweetner/greatness-is-not-the-absences-of-flaws-but-the-willingness-to-accept/) [Sweetner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sweetner/) > [Everything begins and Ends.. Sometimes we just have to accept the facts that its the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everything-begins-and-ends-sometimes-we-just-have-to-accept-the-facts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [After break up there's always definitely life. Accept the facts and have faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jcalex-maneja/after-break-up-there-s-always-definitely-life-accept-the-facts-and/) [Jcalex Maneja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jcalex-maneja/) > [People will generally accept facts as truth only if the facts agree with what they already believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/people-will-generally-accept-facts-as-truth-only-if-the-facts-agree/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [There are times when one cannot accept facts for fear of shattering one's being. As I listened to Ian's news, all of Digit's life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dian-fossey/there-are-times-when-one-cannot-accept-facts-for-fear-of-shattering/) [Dian Fossey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dian-fossey/) > [“Arguing with one who will not accept facts is like administering medicine to the dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/arguing-with-one-who-will-not-accept-facts-is-like-administering/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [An artist can accomplish anything provided he doesn't accept facts or defeat for more than a few minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/an-artist-can-accomplish-anything-provided-he-doesn-t-accept-facts-or/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [Don't divide the world into hem and us. Avoid infatuation with or resentment of the press, the Congress, rivals, or opponents. Accept them as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/don-t-divide-the-world-into-hem-and-us-avoid-infatuation-with-or/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [When you decide to do this kind of music then you just accept the facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/when-you-decide-to-do-this-kind-of-music-then-you-just-accept-the/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [We must have strong minds, ready to accept facts as they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/we-must-have-strong-minds-ready-to-accept-facts-as-they-are/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [So you have to accept facts as fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-yazawa/so-you-have-to-accept-facts-as-fact/) [Ai Yazawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-yazawa/) > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) ## More by B. F. Skinner > [To require a citizen to sign a loyalty oath is to destroy some of the loyalty he could otherwise claim, since any subsequent loyal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/to-require-a-citizen-to-sign-a-loyalty-oath-is-to-destroy-some-of-the/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [A first principle not formally recognized by scientific methodologists: when you run into something interesting, drop everything else and study it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/a-first-principle-not-formally-recognized-by-scientific/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [The problem of far greater importance remains to be solved. Rather than build a world in which we shall all live well, we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/the-problem-of-far-greater-importance-remains-to-be-solved-rather/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [I remember when I was a freshman in college, I was still somewhat bothered by... worried... about religion. I remember going to this professor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/i-remember-when-i-was-a-freshman-in-college-i-was-still-somewhat/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [Those who have had anything useful to say have said it far too often, and those who have had nothing to say have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/those-who-have-had-anything-useful-to-say-have-said-it-far-too-often/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [I would be opposed to any kind of totalitarian control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/i-would-be-opposed-to-any-kind-of-totalitarian-control/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [A disappointment is not generally an oversight. It might just be the best one can do the situation being what it is. The genuine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/a-disappointment-is-not-generally-an-oversight-it-might-just-be-the/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [The simplest and most satisfactory view is that thought is simply behavior - verbal or nonverbal, covert or overt. It is not some mysterious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/the-simplest-and-most-satisfactory-view-is-that-thought-is-simply/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [Behavior is shaped and maintained by its consequences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/behavior-is-shaped-and-maintained-by-its-consequences/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [The alphabet was a great invention, which enabled men to store and to learn with little effort what others had learned the hard way-that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/the-alphabet-was-a-great-invention-which-enabled-men-to-store-and-to/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [The people who control the condition in which we live have no reason to think beyond more than the next five or 10 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/the-people-who-control-the-condition-in-which-we-live-have-no-reason/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [I am opposed to the military use of animals. I am also opposed to the military use of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/i-am-opposed-to-the-military-use-of-animals-i-am-also-opposed-to-the/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [A person's genetic endowment, a product of the evolution of the species, is said to explain part of the workings of his mind and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/a-person-s-genetic-endowment-a-product-of-the-evolution-of-the/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [Reinforcement is being right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/reinforcement-is-being-right/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [If you're old, don't try to change yourself, change your environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/if-you-re-old-don-t-try-to-change-yourself-change-your-environment/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) [Explore all 105 B. F. Skinner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Science is a willingness to accept facts even when they are opposed to wishes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "B. F. 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