--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a man is offered a fact which goes…" description: "\"If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26b/bertrand-russell-69_accepting_if-a-man-is-offered-a-fact-which-goes-ag_2067155.jpg" --- # If a man is offered a fact which goes against his… ![“If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even…” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26b/bertrand-russell-69_accepting_if-a-man-is-offered-a-fact-which-goes-ag_2067155.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26b/bertrand-russell-69_accepting_if-a-man-is-offered-a-fact-which-goes-ag_2067155.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26b/bertrand-russell-69_accepting_if-a-man-is-offered-a-fact-which-goes-ag_2067155.jpg) > “If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even on the slightest evidence. The origin of myths is explained in this way.” [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People tend to accept ideas that match their instincts and reject those that conflict, unless evidence is overwhelming. **In simple terms:** Instincts bias belief; accept matching ideas, reject conflicting ones. Key Takeaway Question your instincts and seek strong evidence. Themes cognition bias myths evidence instincts Mood skeptical reflective critical Type philosophical psychological analytical When to use this quote - political persuasion - personal decision making - scientific debate - media consumption Key Concepts confirmation bias motivational reasoning myth formation Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize when instinct overrides evidence? - What strategies help evaluate evidence objectively? A Different Perspective If evidence is strong but conflicts with instincts, people may still reject it. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Evidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evidence/) [Evidence Origin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evidence-origin-3973116/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Favourite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favourite/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Instincts Accept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instincts-accept-3973114/) [Instincts Scrutinize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instincts-scrutinize-3973115/) [Intuition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intuition/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Myths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myths/) [Myths Explained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myths-explained-3973113/) [Overwhelming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overwhelming/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Refuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuse/) [Scrutinize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scrutinize/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [There is something feeble, and a little contemptible, about a man who cannot face the perils of life without the help of comfortable myths.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/there-is-something-feeble-and-a-little-contemptible-about-a-man-who-3/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [There is something feeble and a little contemptible about a man who cannot face the perils of life without the help of comfortable myths.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/there-is-something-feeble-and-a-little-contemptible-about-a-man-who/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Everything beyond getting together felt like a bonus and made everyone feel really relaxed. It's not like people don't scrutinize their own decisions or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pontus-winnberg/everything-beyond-getting-together-felt-like-a-bonus-and-made/) [Pontus Winnberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pontus-winnberg/) > [Several months ago, out of the blue, a company named "Cingular" started sending me bills. I had never heard of Cingular, and I honestly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/several-months-ago-out-of-the-blue-a-company-named-cingular-started/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [There should be a separate line to scrutinize anybody with the name Abdul or Ahmed or Mohammed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gallagher/there-should-be-a-separate-line-to-scrutinize-anybody-with-the-name/) [Mike Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gallagher/) > ["Do you love me?"; "Are you my friend?". The One who scrutinizes hearts (cf. Rom 8:27), makes himself a beggar of love and questions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/do-you-love-me-are-you-my-friend-the-one-who-scrutinizes-hearts-cf/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Virtue will catch as well as vice by contact; and the public stock of honest manly principle will daily accumulate. We are not too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/virtue-will-catch-as-well-as-vice-by-contact-and-the-public-stock-of/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [We cannot treat people with a right to asylum the same way as people from a safe country. They need to be sent back.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-gentiloni/we-cannot-treat-people-with-a-right-to-asylum-the-same-way-as-people/) [Paolo Gentiloni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-gentiloni/) > [If the media is just a cheerleader for an authoritarian populist, who isn't that popular, then we're in a sorry state. The media has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-the-media-is-just-a-cheerleader-for-an-authoritarian-populist-who/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [Revolution is engendered by an indignation with tyranny, yet is itself pregnant with tyranny… An attempt to scrutinize men's thoughts and punish their opinions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/revolution-is-engendered-by-an-indignation-with-tyranny-yet-is-itself/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [The quality of light by which we scrutinize our lives has direct bearing upon the product which we live, and upon the changes which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/the-quality-of-light-by-which-we-scrutinize-our-lives-has-direct-2/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [The closer we scrutinize what God has made, the more perfect it appears!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/the-closer-we-scrutinize-what-god-has-made-the-more-perfect-it-appears/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“When somebody tells us something that would be disturbing or inconvenient for us to believe, we reflexively scrutinize that”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kreider/when-somebody-tells-us-something-that-would-be-disturbing-or/) [Tim Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kreider/) > [The quality of light by which we scrutinize our lives has direct bearing upon the product which we live, and upon the changes which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/the-quality-of-light-by-which-we-scrutinize-our-lives-has-direct/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [Perhaps, if science is clever enough to see, it will realize that religion may not be too far off with its concrete imagery; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lanza/perhaps-if-science-is-clever-enough-to-see-it-will-realize-that/) [Robert Lanza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lanza/) ## More by Bertrand Russell > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [That the world is in a bad shape is undeniable, but there is not the faintest reason in history to suppose that Christianity offers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/that-the-world-is-in-a-bad-shape-is-undeniable-but-there-is-not-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [All movements go too far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/all-movements-go-too-far/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Those who advocate common usage in philosophy sometimes speak in a manner that suggests the mystique of the 'common man.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/those-who-advocate-common-usage-in-philosophy-sometimes-speak-in-a/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Such, in outline, but even more purposeless, more void of meaning, is the world which Science presents for our belief. Amid such a world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/such-in-outline-but-even-more-purposeless-more-void-of-meaning-is-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Dr. Arnold . . . the admired reformer of public schools, came across some cranks who thought it a mistake to flog boys. Anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/dr-arnold-the-admired-reformer-of-public-schools-came-across-some/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Of all evils of war the greatest is the purely spiritual evil: the hatred, the injustice, the repudiation of truth, the artificial conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/of-all-evils-of-war-the-greatest-is-the-purely-spiritual-evil-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Aristotle maintained that women have fewer teeth than men; although he was twice married, it never occurred to him to verify this statement by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/aristotle-maintained-that-women-have-fewer-teeth-than-men-although-he/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [If an opinion contrary to your own makes you angry, that is a sign that you are subconsciously aware of having no good reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-an-opinion-contrary-to-your-own-makes-you-angry-that-is-a-sign/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I cannot escape from the conclusion that the great ages of progress have depended upon a small number of individuals of transcendent ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-cannot-escape-from-the-conclusion-that-the-great-ages-of-progress/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I think it would be just to say the most essential characteristic of mind is memory, using this word in its broadest sense to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-think-it-would-be-just-to-say-the-most-essential-characteristic-of/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The newspapers at one time said that I was dead but after carefully examining the evidence I came to the conclusion that this statement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-newspapers-at-one-time-said-that-i-was-dead-but-after-carefully/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Persecution is used in theology, not in arithmetic, because in arithmetic there is knowledge, but in theology there is only opinion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/persecution-is-used-in-theology-not-in-arithmetic-because-in/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Many orthodox people speak as though it were the business of sceptics to disprove received dogmas rather than of dogmatists to prove them. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/many-orthodox-people-speak-as-though-it-were-the-business-of-sceptics/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [There is no greater reason for children to honour parents than for parents to honour children except, that while the children are young, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/there-is-no-greater-reason-for-children-to-honour-parents-than-for/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) [Explore all 1,620 Bertrand Russell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## 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. 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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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even on the slightest evidence. 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