--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If any one asks: ‘Why should I accept the…" description: "\"“If any one asks: ‘Why should I accept the results of valid arguments based on true premisses?’ we can only answer by appealing to our principle. In fa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/bertrand-russell-69_first-sight_if-any-one-asks-why-should-i-accept-the_2123761.jpg" --- # If any one asks: ‘Why should I accept the results of valid… ![“If any one asks: ‘Why should I accept the results of valid arguments based on true premisses?’ we can only answer by appealing to our principle. In fact, the truth of the principle is impossible to doubt, and its obviousness is so great that at first sight it seems almost trivial. Such principles…” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/bertrand-russell-69_first-sight_if-any-one-asks-why-should-i-accept-the_2123761.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/bertrand-russell-69_first-sight_if-any-one-asks-why-should-i-accept-the_2123761.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/bertrand-russell-69_first-sight_if-any-one-asks-why-should-i-accept-the_2123761.jpg) > ““If any one asks: ‘Why should I accept the results of valid arguments based on true premisses?’ we can only answer by appealing to our principle. In fact, the truth of the principle is impossible to doubt, and its obviousness is so great that at first sight it seems almost trivial. Such principles, however, are not trivial to the philosopher, for they show that we may have indubitable knowledge which is in no way derived from objects of sense. The”” [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. The author argues that principles of reasoning are self‑evident and provide indubitable knowledge independent of sensory experience. **In simple terms:** Fundamental reasoning principles are unquestionable and give certain knowledge. Key Takeaway Rely on basic logical principles for certainty. Themes logic knowledge epistemology Mood analytical thoughtful Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - philosophical inquiry - education - critical thinking Key Concepts foundationalism rationalism Questions to Reflect On - What principles seem self‑evident to you? - How do you balance intuition and reason? A Different Perspective Overreliance on self‑evident principles may ignore empirical nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt Obviousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt-obviousness-4344992/) [First sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-sight/) [Impossible Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible-doubt-4344994/) [Indubitable Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indubitable-knowledge-4344996/) [Obviousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obviousness/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Truth Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-principle-244069/) ## Related quotes > [It is never to be expected in a revolution that every man is to change his opinion at the same moment. There never yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-is-never-to-be-expected-in-a-revolution-that-every-man-is-to/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Obviousness is always the enemy of correctness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/obviousness-is-always-the-enemy-of-correctness/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Nothing is obvious in itself. Obviousness is subjective.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/nothing-is-obvious-in-itself-obviousness-is-subjective/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [“saw with razor’s-edge clarity, so plainly that I laughed out loud from the Disney Movie obviousness of it: The greatest power comes from love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-j-miller/saw-with-razor-s-edge-clarity-so-plainly-that-i-laughed-out-loud-from/) [Sam J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-j-miller/) > [There's a depth of meaning all on its own in awareness being gentled. From within the subtlety of being gentled, the level of perception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-ruiter/there-s-a-depth-of-meaning-all-on-its-own-in-awareness-being-gentled/) [John de Ruiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-ruiter/) > ["The people" is that massive portion of a society that lives by its pathetic subjection to sheer immediacy or self-obviousness, and that therefore uncritically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/the-people-is-that-massive-portion-of-a-society-that-lives-by-its/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [“While you were busy trying to prove God stands behind you, God was before me lighting the trail, so he could lead us both.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/while-you-were-busy-trying-to-prove-god-stands-behind-you-god-was/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [The ability of the theist to misunderstand a thing is directly proportional to the obviousness of the thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-ability-of-the-theist-to-misunderstand-a-thing-is-directly/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Something is reflecting our thoughts back to us in obvious and not so obvious ways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/something-is-reflecting-our-thoughts-back-to-us-in-obvious-and-not-so/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“It was so completely obvious, and yet what proof was there? It was, Martin thought, like the rabbit which the Hindus see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-boucher/it-was-so-completely-obvious-and-yet-what-proof-was-there-it-was/) [Anthony Boucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-boucher/) > [the squeeky wheel gets the grease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/the-squeeky-wheel-gets-the-grease/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Opinions about obviousness are to a certain extent a function of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/opinions-about-obviousness-are-to-a-certain-extent-a-function-of-time/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [My hatred of crowds, the obviousness of crowds, of anything en masse. Is this why I like little-known books? A general desire to escape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/my-hatred-of-crowds-the-obviousness-of-crowds-of-anything-en-masse-is/) [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) > [There are certain truths which stand out so openly on the roadsides of life, as it were, that every passer-by may see them. Yet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/there-are-certain-truths-which-stand-out-so-openly-on-the-roadsides/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/beyond-the-obvious-facts-that-he-has-at-some-time-done-manual-labour/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) ## 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 First sight quotes > [ONE stone enough to break a glass,,, ONE sentence is enough to break a heart,,, FIRST sight is enough to fall in love,,, ONE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-stone-enough-to-break-a-glass-one-sentence-is-enough-to-break-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never believed that they was such thing as love at first sight but I think I'm having that feeliing @sarahlovemoody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mishack/i-never-believed-that-they-was-such-thing-as-love-at-first-sight-but/) [Mishack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mishack/) > [I do believe in love at first sight. I believe in a lot of thing. I truly believe everything happens for a reason, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-do-believe-in-love-at-first-sight-i-believe-in-a-lot-of-thing-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I had the love for the game at first sight. Growing up, I'd play anywhere, in any weather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-wan-bissaka/i-had-the-love-for-the-game-at-first-sight-growing-up-i-d-play/) [Aaron Wan-Bissaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-wan-bissaka/) > [I don't BeliEvE in lOvE at FirST SiGht ? because I BelIeVe in LoVe at EverY sIGHt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-believe-in-love-at-first-sight-because-i-believe-in-love-at/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometime when u meet somone u just click i don't believe in love at first sight, but I sure believe in the click](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiz/sometime-when-u-meet-somone-u-just-click-i-don-t-believe-in-love-at/) [Kiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiz/) > [It was love at first sight. Then I took a second look!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/it-was-love-at-first-sight-then-i-took-a-second-look/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [“Aah, man. Forty-one was far too fucking old for love at first sight. He might as well throw himself at her feet and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-scott/aah-man-forty-one-was-far-too-fucking-old-for-love-at-first-sight-he/) [Kylie Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-scott/) > [ p.61 He \[Roark\] was usually disliked, from the first sight of his face, anywhere he went. His face was closed like the door of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/p-61-he-roark-was-usually-disliked-from-the-first-sight-of-his-face/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [It was love at first sight. Until reality struck like lightning and burnt up everything leaving me with nothing but scars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-was-love-at-first-sight-until-reality-struck-like-lightning-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind, Two of us will help you, whichever you would find, One among us seven will let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/danger-lies-before-you-while-safety-lies-behind-two-of-us-will-help/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [When I was starting out, conceptual photography had become something that had to be amateur - like, that had to be black-and-white, or photocopied,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elad-lassry/when-i-was-starting-out-conceptual-photography-had-become-something/) [Elad Lassry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elad-lassry/) > [“Men often fall in love at first sight”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/men-often-fall-in-love-at-first-sight/) [Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) > [I now believe in love at first sight. Especially after it's happened to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/i-now-believe-in-love-at-first-sight-especially-after-it-s-happened/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I don't really believe in love at first sight because your judging the person by their looks and usually the person is rude.I fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/destiny/i-don-t-really-believe-in-love-at-first-sight-because-your-judging/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/destiny/) [Browse all 594 First sight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-sight/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If any one asks: ‘Why should I accept the results of valid arguments based on true premisses?’ we can only answer by appealing to our principle. In fact, the truth of the principle is impossible to doubt, and its obviousness is so great that at first sight it seems almost trivial. Such principles, however, are not trivial to the philosopher, for they show that we may have indubitable knowledge which is in no way derived from objects of sense. The”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bertrand Russell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-any-one-asks-why-should-i-accept-the-results-of-valid-arguments/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "First sight" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-any-one-asks-why-should-i-accept-the-results-of-valid-arguments/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/bertrand-russell-69_first-sight_if-any-one-asks-why-should-i-accept-the_2123761.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/bertrand-russell-69_first-sight_if-any-one-asks-why-should-i-accept-the_2123761.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/bertrand-russell-69_first-sight_if-any-one-asks-why-should-i-accept-the_2123761.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If any one asks: ‘Why should I accept the results of valid arguments based on true premisses?’ we can only…” — Bertrand Russell", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bertrand Russell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If any one asks: ‘Why should...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-any-one-asks-why-should-i-accept-the-results-of-valid-arguments/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-any-one-asks-why-should-i-accept-the-results-of-valid-arguments/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```