--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Skepticism must go hand in hand with…" description: "\"Skepticism must go hand in hand with rationality. When theories are shown to be false, the correct thing to do is to move on.\" — Brian Cox" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/brian-cox-8883_doubt_skepticism-must-go-hand-in-hand-with-rat_652470.jpg" --- # Skepticism must go hand in hand with rationality. When… ![“Skepticism must go hand in hand with rationality. When theories are shown to be false, the correct thing to do is to move on.” quote by Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/brian-cox-8883_doubt_skepticism-must-go-hand-in-hand-with-rat_652470.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/brian-cox-8883_doubt_skepticism-must-go-hand-in-hand-with-rat_652470.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/brian-cox-8883_doubt_skepticism-must-go-hand-in-hand-with-rat_652470.jpg) > “Skepticism must go hand in hand with rationality. When theories are shown to be false, the correct thing to do is to move on.” [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Skepticism and rationality must work together; discard false theories and pursue better ones. **In simple terms:** Question, then move on. Key Takeaway Apply critical thinking. Themes science critical thinking open‑mindedness Mood thoughtful analytical Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - research labs - policy making - education Key Concepts theory testing intellectual humility Questions to Reflect On - When should you trust a theory? - How do you balance doubt with action? A Different Perspective Over‑skepticism can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Hand in hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hand-in-hand/) [Rationality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rationality/) [Skepticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skepticism/) [Things to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-to-do/) ## Related quotes > [“Non-belief and skepticism go hand and hand; always seeking, but never finding the truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-bosse/non-belief-and-skepticism-go-hand-and-hand-always-seeking-but-never/) T.R. Bosse > [“Some information is classified legitimately; as with military hardware, secrecy sometimes really is in the national interest. Further, military, political, and intelligence communities tend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/some-information-is-classified-legitimately-as-with-military-hardware/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“Humor today goes hand in hand with our rationality, and not just rationality in the sense of cognitive sophistication, but also in the sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-morreall/humor-today-goes-hand-in-hand-with-our-rationality-and-not-just/) John Morreall > [“...Spinoza’s Conjecture:“Belief comes quickly and naturally, skepticism is slow and unnatural, and most people have a low tolerance for ambiguity. The scientific principle that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/spinoza-s-conjecture-belief-comes-quickly-and-naturally-skepticism-is/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [Skepticism's bad rap arises from the impression that, however necessary the activity, it can only be regarded as a negative removal of false claims.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/skepticism-s-bad-rap-arises-from-the-impression-that-however/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [“the thing about fear is that it defies the laws of rationality. It creates its own laws instead”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/the-thing-about-fear-is-that-it-defies-the-laws-of-rationality-it/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“The more rational we are, the more emotional we can be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nino-gruettke/the-more-rational-we-are-the-more-emotional-we-can-be/) Nino Gruettke > [“Once your fairytale gets shattered multiple times, life will finally paint reality in its place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaeeshia-ratcliff-davis/once-your-fairytale-gets-shattered-multiple-times-life-will-finally/) [VaeEshia Ratcliff-Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaeeshia-ratcliff-davis/) > [“If we accept that there will always be sides, it’s a nontrivial to-do list item to always be on the side of angels. Distrust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/if-we-accept-that-there-will-always-be-sides-it-s-a-nontrivial-to-do/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [Most haystacks do not even have a needle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenzo-lamas/most-haystacks-do-not-even-have-a-needle/) [Lorenzo Lamas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenzo-lamas/) > [“It's no use preaching to the choir. The rulebook, evidence, and good, old-fashioned fact-checking – let alone human decency – have been thrown out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-forester/it-s-no-use-preaching-to-the-choir-the-rulebook-evidence-and-good-old/) [H.M. Forester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-forester/) > [“When a human being develops an argument, when a human being attempts not only to think but to speak with precision, he or she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dewitt/when-a-human-being-develops-an-argument-when-a-human-being-attempts/) [Helen DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dewitt/) > [“When it comes to the Big Questions in Life, the preponderance of evidence should be our best advisor to inform our Beliefs. The companion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-goedken/when-it-comes-to-the-big-questions-in-life-the-preponderance-of/) [Brian Goedken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-goedken/) > [I regard individuality as the most precious trait we have, because without it there is no creativity, there is no consciousness, there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/i-regard-individuality-as-the-most-precious-trait-we-have-because/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [Truth is much too complicated to allow anything but approximations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-von-neumann/truth-is-much-too-complicated-to-allow-anything-but-approximations/) [John von Neumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-von-neumann/) ## More by Brian Cox > [You dig deeper and it gets more and more complicated, and you get confused, and it's tricky and it's hard, but... It is beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/you-dig-deeper-and-it-gets-more-and-more-complicated-and-you-get/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [I didn't have this feeling that I should be a leading actor in the cinema. And I wouldn't want the responsibility of the opening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-didn-t-have-this-feeling-that-i-should-be-a-leading-actor-in-the/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/the-correct-statement-of-individual-rights-is-that-everyone-has-the/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [I was living in London and I thought, 'There's nothing here for me anymore.' I don't want to become this actor who's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-was-living-in-london-and-i-thought-there-s-nothing-here-for-me/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [I enjoy acting now more than I ever have. I've had lots of difficult times when I was younger, but that was all tied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-enjoy-acting-now-more-than-i-ever-have-i-ve-had-lots-of-difficult/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [The problem is that the U.K. in essence is a feudal society. It's everyone in their place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/the-problem-is-that-the-u-k-in-essence-is-a-feudal-society-it-s/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [Deeper understanding confers that most precious thing - wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/deeper-understanding-confers-that-most-precious-thing-wonder/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [“Later, we shall see that if it were possible to exceed the speed of light, we could construct time machines capable of transporting us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/later-we-shall-see-that-if-it-were-possible-to-exceed-the-speed-of/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [It would be wonderful if ideas could be the new rock 'n roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/it-would-be-wonderful-if-ideas-could-be-the-new-rock-n-roll/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [I've directed a couple of times in the theater, but I wouldn't make a habit of it because it's too consuming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-ve-directed-a-couple-of-times-in-the-theater-but-i-wouldn-t-make-a/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [“I'm comfortable with the unknown -- that's the point of science. There are places out there, billions of places out there, that we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-m-comfortable-with-the-unknown-that-s-the-point-of-science-there/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [The story of the universe finally comes to an end. For the first time in its life, the universe will be permanent and unchanging.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/the-story-of-the-universe-finally-comes-to-an-end-for-the-first-time/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [I did a film in which Andy Garcia and Michael Keaton both played the leads, 'Desperate Measures,' and interestingly enough it was their biggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-did-a-film-in-which-andy-garcia-and-michael-keaton-both-played-the/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [Science is too important not to be a part of popular culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/science-is-too-important-not-to-be-a-part-of-popular-culture/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [I always think I look like the Elephant Man - I can't get used to my own image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-always-think-i-look-like-the-elephant-man-i-can-t-get-used-to-my/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) [Explore all 77 Brian Cox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) ## More Doubt quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. The moment one begins to doubt the knowledge that, 'I am Chandubhai,' misery arises. Once one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-is-doubt-shanka-there-is-misery-the-moment-one-begins-to/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Vision motivates, sustains and dispels doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-young/vision-motivates-sustains-and-dispels-doubt/) [Thomas Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-young/) > [One may not doubt that, somehow Good Shall come of Water and of Mud; And sure, the reverent eye must see A purpose in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-brooke/one-may-not-doubt-that-somehow-good-shall-come-of-water-and-of-mud/) [Rupert Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-brooke/) > [Let smiles overshadow sadness. Let faith make you believe. Let confidence wash away doubts. Let love complete your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/let-smiles-overshadow-sadness-let-faith-make-you-believe-let/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [When in doubt, suggest that a subcommittee be appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapman/when-in-doubt-suggest-that-a-subcommittee-be-appointed/) Harry Chapman > [“Those who contemplate never escape the doubt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/those-who-contemplate-never-escape-the-doubt/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) [Browse all 9,582 Doubt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Skepticism must go hand in hand with rationality. 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