Admitting Quote by C. E. M. Joad
“There are those who feel an imperative need to believe, for whom the values of a belief are proportionate not to its truth, but to its definiteness. Incapable of either admitting the existence of contrary judgments or of suspending their own, they supply the place of knowledge by turning other men's conjectures into dogmas.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Philosophy of Religion, C. E. M. Joad, 1935
People cling to beliefs because the certainty they provide feels more valuable than truth, turning speculation into dogma.
In simple terms: Belief valued for certainty over truth.
Question your certainty.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- political debate
- religious discussion
- personal decision making
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What do you value more: certainty or truth?
- How do you handle contradictory evidence?
Beliefs can be challenged by evidence.