---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Any man who stands for progress has to…"
description: "\"Any man who stands for progress has to criticize, disbelieve and challenge every item of the old faith. Item by item he has to reason out every nook an..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/bhagat-singh-10375_believe_any-man-who-stands-for-progress-has-to-c_1437159.png"
---

#  Any man who stands for progress has to criticize…

![“Any man who stands for progress has to criticize, disbelieve and challenge every item of the old faith. Item by item he has to reason out every nook and corner of the prevailing faith. If after considerable reasoning one is led to believe in any theory or philosophy, his faith is welcomed. His…” quote by Bhagat Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/bhagat-singh-10375_believe_any-man-who-stands-for-progress-has-to-c_1437159.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/bhagat-singh-10375_believe_any-man-who-stands-for-progress-has-to-c_1437159.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/bhagat-singh-10375_believe_any-man-who-stands-for-progress-has-to-c_1437159.png)

> “Any man who stands for progress has to criticize, disbelieve and challenge every item of the old faith. Item by item he has to reason out every nook and corner of the prevailing faith. If after considerable reasoning one is led to believe in any theory or philosophy, his faith is welcomed. His reasoning can be mistaken, wrong, misled and sometimes fallacious. But he is liable to correction because reason is the guiding star of his life. But mere faith and blind faith is dangerous: it dulls the brain, and makes a man reactionary.”

[Bhagat Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Progress requires questioning existing beliefs, analyzing each claim, and accepting ideas only after careful reasoning, while blind faith hinders critical thought.

**In simple terms:** Question old ideas, accept only reasoned beliefs.

Key Takeaway

Think critically, stay open to correction.

Themes

critical thinking progress reason faith open-mindedness

Mood

thoughtful challenging

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- academic research
- policy reform
- personal belief revision
- social activism
- education curriculum design

Key Concepts

philosophy skepticism intellectual humility

Questions to Reflect On

- What beliefs have you accepted without scrutiny?
- How do you balance skepticism with openness?

A Different Perspective

Reasoning can be biased; new evidence may overturn conclusions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind/) [Blind faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind-faith/) [Blind Faith Is Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind-faith-is-dangerous-219310/) [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Corners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corners/) [Corrections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corrections/) [Criticize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticize/) [Criticize Disbelieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticize-disbelieve-5133047/) [Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Guiding stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guiding-stars/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Items](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/items/) [Liable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liable/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere/) [Mere Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere-faith-3562662/) [Misled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misled/) [Mistaken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistaken/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Philosophy Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-faith-3881562/) [Prevailing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prevailing/) [Prevailing Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prevailing-faith-5133046/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Reactionaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reactionaries/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reasoning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasoning/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/)

## Related quotes

> [As I swept the last bit of dust, I made a covenant with myself: I will accept. Whatever will be, will be. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/as-i-swept-the-last-bit-of-dust-i-made-a-covenant-with-myself-i-will/)

[Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/)

> [Dreams without actions is a mere faith without works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-owusu-boabann/dreams-without-actions-is-a-mere-faith-without-works/)

[Joseph Owusu Boabann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-owusu-boabann/)

> [“Mere faith is the path of the lazy. It is the overused excuse of the deluded. Get off your ass and make something happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthes/mere-faith-is-the-path-of-the-lazy-it-is-the-overused-excuse-of-the/)

[Dave Matthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthes/)

> [Do not say that faith in Christ alone can save you, for this is not possible if you do not attain love for Him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/do-not-say-that-faith-in-christ-alone-can-save-you-for-this-is-not/)

[Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/)

> [My religion recognizes no obligation to resolve doubt other than through rational means; and it commands no mere faith in eternal truths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses-mendelssohn/my-religion-recognizes-no-obligation-to-resolve-doubt-other-than/)

[Moses Mendelssohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses-mendelssohn/)

> [We never had books at home, but my dad, seeing how keen I was to read, took me to Islington Library when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/we-never-had-books-at-home-but-my-dad-seeing-how-keen-i-was-to-read/)

[Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/)

> [A nation orients itself by its own geniuses, and derives from them its ideas of its own ideals, but the guiding star serves also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/a-nation-orients-itself-by-its-own-geniuses-and-derives-from-them-its/)

[Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/)

> [Progress, progress is the law of nature; under God it shall be our eternal guiding star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/progress-progress-is-the-law-of-nature-under-god-it-shall-be-our/)

[Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/)

> [We believe faith and freedom must be our guiding stars, for they show us truth, they make us brave, give us hope, and leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-believe-faith-and-freedom-must-be-our-guiding-stars-for-they-show/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [My guiding star always is, Get hold of portable property.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/my-guiding-star-always-is-get-hold-of-portable-property/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [The romantic chivalric tradition takes, or at any rate has in the past taken, the young man's eye off women as they are, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-romantic-chivalric-tradition-takes-or-at-any-rate-has-in-the-past/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [How can a world be good in which Money is the moving power, and Self-interest the guiding star?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-rider-haggard/how-can-a-world-be-good-in-which-money-is-the-moving-power-and-self/)

[H. Rider Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-rider-haggard/)

> [You're the first, the last, and my everything and the answer to all my dreams. You're my sun, my moon, my guiding star, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-white/you-re-the-first-the-last-and-my-everything-and-the-answer-to-all-my/)

[Barry White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-white/)

> [Happy are they who live in the dream of their own existence, and see all things in the light of their own minds; who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/happy-are-they-who-live-in-the-dream-of-their-own-existence-and-see/)

[William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/)

> [If, while hurrying ostensibly to the temple of truth, we hand the reins over to our personal interests which look aside at very different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/if-while-hurrying-ostensibly-to-the-temple-of-truth-we-hand-the-reins/)

[Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/)

## More by Bhagat Singh

> [The sanctity of law can be maintained only so long as it is the expression of the will of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/the-sanctity-of-law-can-be-maintained-only-so-long-as-it-is-the/)

[Bhagat Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/)

> [I deny the very existence of that Almighty Supreme Being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/i-deny-the-very-existence-of-that-almighty-supreme-being/)

[Bhagat Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/)

> [Merciless criticism and independent thinking are the two necessary traits of revolutionary thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/merciless-criticism-and-independent-thinking-are-the-two-necessary/)

[Bhagat Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/)

> [Let me announce, with all the strength at my command, that I am not a terrorist and I never was, expect perhaps in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/let-me-announce-with-all-the-strength-at-my-command-that-i-am-not-a/)

[Bhagat Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/)

> [Every tiny molecule of Ash is in motion with my heat I am such a Lunatic that I am free even in Jail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/every-tiny-molecule-of-ash-is-in-motion-with-my-heat-i-am-such-a/)

[Bhagat Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/)

> [L. Ram Saran Das was a member of the revolutionary party which was held responsible for many a violent deed. But this by no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/l-ram-saran-das-was-a-member-of-the-revolutionary-party-which-was/)

[Bhagat Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/)

> [The martyrdom of Lalaji has shaken the Congressmen. Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru is planning something solid to be presented for adoption in the coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/the-martyrdom-of-lalaji-has-shaken-the-congressmen-pandit-jawahar-lal/)

[Bhagat Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/)

> [I have altogether failed to comprehend as to how undue pride or vain-gloriousness could ever stand in the way of a man believing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/i-have-altogether-failed-to-comprehend-as-to-how-undue-pride-or-vain/)

[Bhagat Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/)

> [This is not the time to marry. My country is calling me. I have taken a vow to serve the country with my heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/this-is-not-the-time-to-marry-my-country-is-calling-me-i-have-taken-a/)

[Bhagat Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/)

> [Man acts only when he is sure of the justness of his action, as we threw the bomb in the Legislative Assembly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/man-acts-only-when-he-is-sure-of-the-justness-of-his-action-as-we/)

[Bhagat Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/)

> [“It is beyond the power of any man to make a revolution. Neither can it be brought about on any appointed date. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/it-is-beyond-the-power-of-any-man-to-make-a-revolution-neither-can-it/)

[Bhagat Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/)

> [Non-violence is backed by the theory of soul-force in which suffering is courted in the hope of ultimately winning over the opponent. But what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/non-violence-is-backed-by-the-theory-of-soul-force-in-which-suffering/)

[Bhagat Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/)

> [By Revolution, we mean the ultimate establishment of an order of society which may not be threatened by such breakdown, and in which the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/by-revolution-we-mean-the-ultimate-establishment-of-an-order-of/)

[Bhagat Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/)

> [In the statement accompanying the text of Lahore Conspiracy Case Ordinance, the Viceroy had stated that the accused in this case were trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/in-the-statement-accompanying-the-text-of-lahore-conspiracy-case/)

[Bhagat Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/)

> [In times of great necessity, violence is indispensable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/in-times-of-great-necessity-violence-is-indispensable/)

[Bhagat Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/)

[Explore all 66 Bhagat Singh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/)

## More Believe quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/)

[Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/)

[Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/)

> [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

[Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Any man who stands for progress has to criticize, disbelieve and challenge every item of the old faith. Item by item he has to reason out every nook and corner of the prevailing faith. If after considerable reasoning one is led to believe in any theory or philosophy, his faith is welcomed. His reasoning can be mistaken, wrong, misled and sometimes fallacious. But he is liable to correction because reason is the guiding star of his life. But mere faith and blind faith is dangerous: it dulls the brain, and makes a man reactionary.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Bhagat Singh"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/any-man-who-stands-for-progress-has-to-criticize-disbelieve-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Believe"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/any-man-who-stands-for-progress-has-to-criticize-disbelieve-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/bhagat-singh-10375_believe_any-man-who-stands-for-progress-has-to-c_1437159.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/bhagat-singh-10375_believe_any-man-who-stands-for-progress-has-to-c_1437159.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/bhagat-singh-10375_believe_any-man-who-stands-for-progress-has-to-c_1437159.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Any man who stands for progress has to criticize, disbelieve and challenge every item of the old faith. Item…” — Bhagat Singh",
                "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": "Bhagat Singh",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Any man who stands for progress...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/any-man-who-stands-for-progress-has-to-criticize-disbelieve-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/any-man-who-stands-for-progress-has-to-criticize-disbelieve-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
