--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We prefer to find an explanation for why…" description: "\"We prefer to find an explanation for why things are not perfect, and these rarely stand up to close scrutiny.\" — Charlie Campbell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b1/charlie-campbell-40400_complaining_we-prefer-to-find-an-explanation-for-why_2636979.jpg" --- # We prefer to find an explanation for why things are not… ![“We prefer to find an explanation for why things are not perfect, and these rarely stand up to close scrutiny.” quote by Charlie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b1/charlie-campbell-40400_complaining_we-prefer-to-find-an-explanation-for-why_2636979.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b1/charlie-campbell-40400_complaining_we-prefer-to-find-an-explanation-for-why_2636979.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b1/charlie-campbell-40400_complaining_we-prefer-to-find-an-explanation-for-why_2636979.jpg) > “We prefer to find an explanation for why things are not perfect, and these rarely stand up to close scrutiny.” [Charlie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-campbell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often seek explanations for imperfections, but these explanations rarely hold up under scrutiny. **In simple terms:** Explanations for flaws often fail when examined. Key Takeaway Critically evaluate explanations. Themes critical thinking skepticism perfection Mood analytical skeptical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal decisions - scientific analysis - media consumption Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - Why do we prefer explanations? - How to test them? A Different Perspective Bias can cloud judgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Scrutiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scrutiny/) ## Related quotes > [“The one thing we will not do under any circumstances is accept ourselves as we are. We prefer to find an explanation for why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-campbell/the-one-thing-we-will-not-do-under-any-circumstances-is-accept/) [Charlie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-campbell/) > [Thoughtful criticism and close scrutiny of all government officials by the press and the public are an important part of our democratic society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/thoughtful-criticism-and-close-scrutiny-of-all-government-officials/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Every citizen owes to the country a vigilant watch and close scrutiny of its public servants and a fair and reasonable estimate of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/every-citizen-owes-to-the-country-a-vigilant-watch-and-close-scrutiny/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [Art is the close scrutiny of reality and therefore I put on the stage only those things that I know happen in our society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bond/art-is-the-close-scrutiny-of-reality-and-therefore-i-put-on-the-stage/) [Edward Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bond/) > [I didn't pay close enough scrutiny to some of the other things that Louis Farrakhan was saying, that's something I just live and learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/i-didn-t-pay-close-enough-scrutiny-to-some-of-the-other-things-that/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [Close scrutiny of an object in nature will nearly always yield some significant fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/close-scrutiny-of-an-object-in-nature-will-nearly-always-yield-some/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [Close scrutiny will show that most of these everyday socalled “crisis situations” are not life-or-death matters at all, but opportunities to either advance, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/close-scrutiny-will-show-that-most-of-these-everyday-socalled-crisis/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Though the boot may fit the foot, one can rarely stand in the tread of his own reputation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-fesler/though-the-boot-may-fit-the-foot-one-can-rarely-stand-in-the-tread-of/) [Wes Fesler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-fesler/) > [Close scrutiny will show that most 'crisis situations' are opportunities to either advance, or stay where you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/close-scrutiny-will-show-that-most-crisis-situations-are/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Not everything needs an explanation. Sometimes things just happen because we choose for them to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/not-everything-needs-an-explanation-sometimes-things-just-happen/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We have this desire for everything to be explained to us. But if you go through your daily actions, very little ends up having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/we-have-this-desire-for-everything-to-be-explained-to-us-but-if-you/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [I think it's an interesting thing to me, because we have this desire for everything to be explained to us. But if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/i-think-it-s-an-interesting-thing-to-me-because-we-have-this-desire/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [Like most young physicists, when I was a kid enraptured with physics, I thought, "Everything can be explained by the theory of the atom!"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-frank/like-most-young-physicists-when-i-was-a-kid-enraptured-with-physics-i/) [Adam Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-frank/) > [“People believe in God because they don't have any other explanation for things that happen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/people-believe-in-god-because-they-don-t-have-any-other-explanation/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [There are many aspects of time we just do not understand. That’s the thing about writing a popular book: You realize the things you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-randall/there-are-many-aspects-of-time-we-just-do-not-understand-that-s-the/) [Lisa Randall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-randall/) ## More by Charlie Campbell > [“The one thing we will not do under any circumstances is accept ourselves as we are. We prefer to find an explanation for why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-campbell/the-one-thing-we-will-not-do-under-any-circumstances-is-accept/) [Charlie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-campbell/) > [One of the things that sets the Bible apart from all other ancient religious writings is its scientific accuracy. Without exception, every other ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-campbell/one-of-the-things-that-sets-the-bible-apart-from-all-other-ancient/) [Charlie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-campbell/) > [When it comes to the whole debate today over evolution versus creation, Jesus affirmed the early chapters of Genesis were accurate when He said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-campbell/when-it-comes-to-the-whole-debate-today-over-evolution-versus/) [Charlie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-campbell/) > [There are dozens of writings outside of the Bible that verify the historical accuracy of many of the names of people, places, and events…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-campbell/there-are-dozens-of-writings-outside-of-the-bible-that-verify-the/) [Charlie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-campbell/) > [Javascript is the duct tape of the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-campbell/javascript-is-the-duct-tape-of-the-internet/) [Charlie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-campbell/) > [Many of those who scoff at the trustworthiness of the Bible do so completely overlooking the fact that thousands of archaeological discoveries have affirmed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-campbell/many-of-those-who-scoff-at-the-trustworthiness-of-the-bible-do-so/) [Charlie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-campbell/) > [Those who brush off the Biblical accounts as "ancient fiction" and "legends" only reveal their ignorance of these archaeological discoveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-campbell/those-who-brush-off-the-biblical-accounts-as-ancient-fiction-and/) [Charlie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-campbell/) > [Lots of people today would never consider themselves guilty of idolatry as far as it is spelled out in the Ten Commandments, but by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-campbell/lots-of-people-today-would-never-consider-themselves-guilty-of/) [Charlie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-campbell/) > [Today there survives more than 25,0000 partial and complete, ancient handwritten manuscript copies of the New Testament. These hand written manuscripts have allowed scholars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-campbell/today-there-survives-more-than-25-0000-partial-and-complete-ancient/) [Charlie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-campbell/) > [“What starts as satire is so often reborn as propaganda...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-campbell/what-starts-as-satire-is-so-often-reborn-as-propaganda/) [Charlie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-campbell/) [Explore all 11 Charlie Campbell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-campbell/) ## More Complaining quotes > [And you can't complain about kissing Emma Watson. Isn't that what everyone in the world wants to do? I've known Emma for a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/and-you-can-t-complain-about-kissing-emma-watson-isn-t-that-what/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [People who are complaining about the Fed are people who've been predicting runaway inflation for five and six years, and it hasn't happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/people-who-are-complaining-about-the-fed-are-people-who-ve-been/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [The one thing I absolutely hate about social media are the people who abuse it. Whenever I see a person who constantly posts negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazmin-garcia/the-one-thing-i-absolutely-hate-about-social-media-are-the-people-who/) [Jazmin Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazmin-garcia/) > [They have no right to complain! If women were cool with knowing their man is cheating on them then they have no right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-williams/they-have-no-right-to-complain-if-women-were-cool-with-knowing-their/) [Eric Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-williams/) > [“Don't wait, just sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-wait-just-sweat/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Do not complain of life's unfairness. It is never fair - at best it is impartial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/do-not-complain-of-life-s-unfairness-it-is-never-fair-at-best-it-is/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [But if people will laugh at my work and keep a sound roof over my head, who am I to complain?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-burke/but-if-people-will-laugh-at-my-work-and-keep-a-sound-roof-over-my/) [Billie Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-burke/) > [I think we need to talk about mental illness a lot more. People complain about tax dollars and say we don't have the money.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-long/i-think-we-need-to-talk-about-mental-illness-a-lot-more-people/) [Nia Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-long/) > [Instead of complaining about your circumstances, get busy creating new ones. You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To become a celebrity is to become a brand name. There is Ivory Soap, Rice Krispies, and Philip Roth. Ivory is the soap that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/to-become-a-celebrity-is-to-become-a-brand-name-there-is-ivory-soap/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [You shouldn't get to live in society and give nothing back. People complain about their taxes, yet they do nothing for the community. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/you-shouldn-t-get-to-live-in-society-and-give-nothing-back-people/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [I was so drunk last night I fell down and missed the floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-martin/i-was-so-drunk-last-night-i-fell-down-and-missed-the-floor/) [Dean Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-martin/) > [Once the war began, the government could do anything 'necessary' to win it; so it was with the 'final solution of the Jewish problem,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-mayer/once-the-war-began-the-government-could-do-anything-necessary-to-win/) [Milton Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-mayer/) > [I'll tell you that the dog whistle politics is badly missing the mark. Because, you know, as I've been speaking about it, sure, I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naheed-nenshi/i-ll-tell-you-that-the-dog-whistle-politics-is-badly-missing-the-mark/) [Naheed Nenshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naheed-nenshi/) Browse all 1,994 Complaining quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We prefer to find an explanation for why things are not perfect, and these rarely stand up to close scrutiny.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charlie Campbell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-campbell/we-prefer-to-find-an-explanation-for-why-things-are-not-perfect-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Complaining" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-campbell/we-prefer-to-find-an-explanation-for-why-things-are-not-perfect-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b1/charlie-campbell-40400_complaining_we-prefer-to-find-an-explanation-for-why_2636979.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b1/charlie-campbell-40400_complaining_we-prefer-to-find-an-explanation-for-why_2636979.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b1/charlie-campbell-40400_complaining_we-prefer-to-find-an-explanation-for-why_2636979.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We prefer to find an explanation for why things are not perfect, and these rarely stand up to close scrutiny.” — Charlie Campbell", "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": "Charlie Campbell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-campbell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We prefer to find an explanation...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-campbell/we-prefer-to-find-an-explanation-for-why-things-are-not-perfect-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-campbell/we-prefer-to-find-an-explanation-for-why-things-are-not-perfect-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 } } ] } ```