Demand Quote by E. F. Schumacher
“The modern world tends to be skeptical about everything that makes demands on man's higher faculties. But it is not at all skeptical about skepticism, which demands hardly anything.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Small Is Beautiful, 1973
People readily doubt complex ideas but accept skepticism without question, revealing a bias toward simplicity over critical thinking.
In simple terms: We doubt much but accept doubt itself easily.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions, even about skepticism.
Themes
philosophy
critical thinking
skepticism
human nature
education
Mood
analytical
provocative
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- media literacy
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
intellectual humility
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we trust skepticism more than other ideas?
- How can we foster deeper critical inquiry?
A Different Perspective
Skepticism can become an unexamined shortcut.
