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Books Quote by Christopher Hitchens

“By all means let us agree that we are pattern-seeking mammals and that, owing to our restless intelligence and inquisitiveness, we will still prefer a conspiracy theory to no explanation at all. Religion was our first attempt at philosophy, just as alchemy was our first attempt at chemistry and…” quote by Christopher Hitchens
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““By all means let us agree that we are pattern-seeking mammals and that, owing to our restless intelligence and inquisitiveness, we will still prefer a conspiracy theory to no explanation at all. Religion was our first attempt at philosophy, just as alchemy was our first attempt at chemistry and astrology our first attempt to make sense of the movements of the heavens. I myself am a strong believer in the study of religion, first because culture and education involve a respect for tradition and for origins, and also because some of the early religious texts were among our first attempts at literature. But there is a reason why religions insist so much on strange events in the sky, as well as on less quantifiable phenomena such as dreams and visions. All of these things cater to our inborn stupidity, and our willingness to be persuaded against all the evidence that we are indeed the center of the universe and that everything is arranged with us in mind.””

Christopher Hitchens

About This Quote

Source Interview: The Spectator, 2005

Humans favor simple, story‑based explanations over complex truths, leading to belief in conspiracies and religions despite evidence to the contrary.

In simple terms: People prefer easy stories over hard facts.

Key Takeaway

Question assumptions and seek evidence.

Themes

cognition belief science religion conspiracy

Mood

skeptical reflective

Type

analytical philosophical

When to use this quote

  • Everyday discussions
  • media consumption
  • political debates
  • educational settings

Key Concepts

Pattern seeking bias epistemology mythmaking

Questions to Reflect On

  • What evidence do you accept without question?
  • How does storytelling shape your worldview?
A Different Perspective

Reliance on narrative can oversimplify reality and hinder critical thinking.

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