---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A 'fact' merely marks the point where we…"
description: "\"A 'fact' merely marks the point where we have agreed to let investigation cease.\" — Bliss Carman"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fff/bliss-carman-24253_agreement_a-fact-merely-marks-the-point-where-we-h_2776700.png"
---

#  A 'fact' merely marks the point where we have agreed to…

![“A 'fact' merely marks the point where we have agreed to let investigation cease.” quote by Bliss Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fff/bliss-carman-24253_agreement_a-fact-merely-marks-the-point-where-we-h_2776700.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fff/bliss-carman-24253_agreement_a-fact-merely-marks-the-point-where-we-h_2776700.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fff/bliss-carman-24253_agreement_a-fact-merely-marks-the-point-where-we-h_2776700.png)

> “A 'fact' merely marks the point where we have agreed to let investigation cease.”

[Bliss Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bliss-carman/)

## About This Quote

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

A fact is a provisional agreement to stop questioning, limiting further inquiry.

**In simple terms:** Facts can halt deeper investigation.

Key Takeaway

Question beyond accepted facts.

Themes

philosophy epistemology truth inquiry skepticism

Mood

reflective inquisitive

Type

philosophical critical

When to use this quote

- scientific research
- debate
- education
- policy making

Key Concepts

social construction knowledge limits critical thinking

Questions to Reflect On

- What facts have you accepted without scrutiny?
- When does consensus hinder progress?

A Different Perspective

Facts may be used to avoid uncomfortable truths.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Agreement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/)

## Related quotes

> [I often wish... that I could rid the world of the tyranny of facts. What are facts but compromises? A fact merely marks the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/i-often-wish-that-i-could-rid-the-world-of-the-tyranny-of-facts-what/)

[Bliss Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bliss-carman/)

> [What are facts but compromises? A fact merely marks the point where we have agreed to let investigation cease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/what-are-facts-but-compromises-a-fact-merely-marks-the-point-where-we/)

[Bliss Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bliss-carman/)

> [The plea agreement negotiated by Janet Reno's Justice Department with Nora, Gene and Trisha Lum is a hoax. It allows two key players in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-klayman/the-plea-agreement-negotiated-by-janet-reno-s-justice-department-with/)

Larry Klayman

> [Clearly, Russia has lied to the world about what's going on in Ukraine. They have clearly violated the cease-fire agreements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/clearly-russia-has-lied-to-the-world-about-what-s-going-on-in-ukraine/)

[Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/)

> [The general public have a warped view of the speed at which an investigation proceeds. They like to imagine tense conversations going on behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/the-general-public-have-a-warped-view-of-the-speed-at-which-an/)

[Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/)

> [Historical investigation and literary criticism have taken the magic out of the Bible and have made it a composite human book, written by many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/historical-investigation-and-literary-criticism-have-taken-the-magic/)

[Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/)

> [It's hard for people to feel secure when there are unexplained drones flying overhead and they're not getting answers they need from the federal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/it-s-hard-for-people-to-feel-secure-when-there-are-unexplained-drones/)

[Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/)

> [ \[In geology,\] As in history, the material in hand remains silent if no questions are asked. The nature of these questions depends on the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-geology-as-in-history-the-material-in-hand-remains-silent-if-no/)

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

> [The characters in my novels are my own unrealized possibilities. That is why I am equally fond of them all and equally horrified by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-characters-in-my-novels-are-my-own-unrealized-possibilities-that/)

[Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/)

> [It required unusual inquisitiveness to pursue the development of scientific curiosities such as charged pith balls, the voltaic cell, and the electrostatic machine. Without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-seitz/it-required-unusual-inquisitiveness-to-pursue-the-development-of/)

[Frederick Seitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-seitz/)

> [Democracy is not being well served as we're accustomed to. There is less information, there's less investigation, there's less analysis, there's less accountability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-greenspon/democracy-is-not-being-well-served-as-we-re-accustomed-to-there-is/)

Edward Greenspon

> [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [The prediction of nuclear winter is drawn not, of course, from any direct experience with the consequences of global nuclear war, but rather from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-prediction-of-nuclear-winter-is-drawn-not-of-course-from-any/)

[Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/)

> [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [Jonah Lehrer is one of the most talented explainers of science that we’ve got. What a pleasure it is to follow his investigation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/jonah-lehrer-is-one-of-the-most-talented-explainers-of-science-that/)

[Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/)

## More by Bliss Carman

> [The control of nature is a phrase conceived in arrogance, born of the the greatest joy in nature is the absence of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/the-control-of-nature-is-a-phrase-conceived-in-arrogance-born-of-the/)

[Bliss Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bliss-carman/)

> [Thank God for poverty That makes and keeps us free And lets us go our unobtrusive way, Glad of the sun and rain, Upright,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/thank-god-for-poverty-that-makes-and-keeps-us-free-and-lets-us-go-our/)

[Bliss Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bliss-carman/)

> [The scarlet of the maples can shake me like a cry Of bugles going by. And my lonely spirit thrills To see the frosty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/the-scarlet-of-the-maples-can-shake-me-like-a-cry-of-bugles-going-by/)

[Bliss Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bliss-carman/)

> [There is only one way in the world to be distinguished. Follow your instinct! Be yourself, and you'll be somebody. Be one more blind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/there-is-only-one-way-in-the-world-to-be-distinguished-follow-your/)

[Bliss Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bliss-carman/)

> [“set me a task in witch i can put something of my very self and it is a task no longer,it is joy;it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/set-me-a-task-in-witch-i-can-put-something-of-my-very-self-and-it-is/)

[Bliss Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bliss-carman/)

> [I took a day to search for God, And found Him not. But as I trod By rocky ledge, through woods untamed, Just where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/i-took-a-day-to-search-for-god-and-found-him-not-but-as-i-trod-by/)

[Bliss Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bliss-carman/)

> [There is something in the autumn that is native to my blood- Touch of manner, hint of mood; And my heart is like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/there-is-something-in-the-autumn-that-is-native-to-my-blood-touch-of/)

[Bliss Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bliss-carman/)

> [“Let the red dawn surmise What we shall do, When this blue starlight dies And all is through. If we have loved but well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/let-the-red-dawn-surmise-what-we-shall-do-when-this-blue-starlight-2/)

[Bliss Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bliss-carman/)

> [There is a passion for perfection which you will rarely see fully developed; but you may note this fact, that in successful lives it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/there-is-a-passion-for-perfection-which-you-will-rarely-see-fully/)

[Bliss Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bliss-carman/)

> [Indifference may not wreck a man's life at any one turn, but it will destroy him with a kind of dry-rot in the long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/indifference-may-not-wreck-a-man-s-life-at-any-one-turn-but-it-will/)

[Bliss Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bliss-carman/)

> [Where there is writing- there is a writer Where there is planning- there is a planner Where there is a building- there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/where-there-is-writing-there-is-a-writer-where-there-is-planning/)

[Bliss Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bliss-carman/)

> [Over the shoulders and slopes of the dune I saw the white daisies go down to the sea, A host in the sunshine, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/over-the-shoulders-and-slopes-of-the-dune-i-saw-the-white-daisies-go/)

[Bliss Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bliss-carman/)

> [What are facts but compromises? A fact merely marks the point where we have agreed to let investigation cease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/what-are-facts-but-compromises-a-fact-merely-marks-the-point-where-we/)

[Bliss Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bliss-carman/)

> [Have little care that Life is brief, And less that Art is long. Success is in the silences Though Fame is in the song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/have-little-care-that-life-is-brief-and-less-that-art-is-long-success/)

[Bliss Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bliss-carman/)

> [Love manifests itself in our bodies as instinctive craving, in our souls as devotion, and in our minds as pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/love-manifests-itself-in-our-bodies-as-instinctive-craving-in-our/)

[Bliss Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bliss-carman/)

[Explore all 24 Bliss Carman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bliss-carman/)

## More Agreement quotes

> [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/)

> [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [Biochemists and biologists who adhere blindly to the Darwinism theory search for results that will be in agreement with their theories and consequently orient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-paul-grasse/biochemists-and-biologists-who-adhere-blindly-to-the-darwinism-theory/)

[Pierre-Paul Grasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-paul-grasse/)

> [In coming to that agreement, my party had a clear philosophy throughout. In Northern Ireland, we should have institutions that respected the differences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/in-coming-to-that-agreement-my-party-had-a-clear-philosophy/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

> [Identity is not negotiable. An identity you have achieved by agreement is always a prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-john-harrison/identity-is-not-negotiable-an-identity-you-have-achieved-by-agreement/)

[M. John Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-john-harrison/)

> [I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/i-am-formally-accountable-to-the-steering-board-of-the-pic-and-i-meet/)

[Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/)

> [Because countries often have differing political and economic systems, agreements are needed to protect those invested in trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/because-countries-often-have-differing-political-and-economic-systems/)

[David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/)

> [As long as I sit at Henry Clay's desk, I will remember his lifelong desire to forge agreement, but I will also keep close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/as-long-as-i-sit-at-henry-clay-s-desk-i-will-remember-his-lifelong/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [Gaia's main problems are not industrialization, ozone depletion, overpopulation, or resource depletion. Gaia's main problem is the lack of mutual understanding and mutual agreement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/gaia-s-main-problems-are-not-industrialization-ozone-depletion/)

[Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/)

> [We recognize that NAFTA is a three-country agreement, and we need a three-country negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/we-recognize-that-nafta-is-a-three-country-agreement-and-we-need-a/)

[Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/)

> [At Ohio State University, to avoid being guilty of 'sexual assault' or 'sexual violence,' you and your partner now apparently have to agree on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/at-ohio-state-university-to-avoid-being-guilty-of-sexual-assault-or/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [Whatever you perceive, you always make a story with yourself as the main character, and that dictates your life. Then when you read 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/whatever-you-perceive-you-always-make-a-story-with-yourself-as-the/)

[Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/)

> [ Look at what I am proposing, and we \[wih Bernie Sanders\] have a vigorous agreement here. We both want to reign in the excesses… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/look-at-what-i-am-proposing-and-we-wih-bernie-sanders-have-a-vigorous/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [I spoke on the phone with President Rouhani of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The two of us discussed our ongoing efforts to reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-spoke-on-the-phone-with-president-rouhani-of-the-islamic-republic/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Netanyahu made all sorts of claims. This was going to be a terrible deal. This was going to result in Iran getting 50 billion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/netanyahu-made-all-sorts-of-claims-this-was-going-to-be-a-terrible/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

[Browse all 1,138 Agreement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "A 'fact' merely marks the point where we have agreed to let investigation cease.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Bliss Carman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/a-fact-merely-marks-the-point-where-we-have-agreed-to-let/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Agreement"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/a-fact-merely-marks-the-point-where-we-have-agreed-to-let/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fff/bliss-carman-24253_agreement_a-fact-merely-marks-the-point-where-we-h_2776700.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fff/bliss-carman-24253_agreement_a-fact-merely-marks-the-point-where-we-h_2776700.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fff/bliss-carman-24253_agreement_a-fact-merely-marks-the-point-where-we-h_2776700.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A 'fact' merely marks the point where we have agreed to let investigation cease.” — Bliss Carman",
                "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": "Bliss Carman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bliss-carman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A 'fact' merely marks the point...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/a-fact-merely-marks-the-point-where-we-have-agreed-to-let/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/a-fact-merely-marks-the-point-where-we-have-agreed-to-let/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
