Add Quote by Francis Bacon
“The human understanding, when any preposition has been once laid down... forces everything else to add fresh support and confirmation; and although more cogent and abundant instances may exist to the contrary, yet it either does not observe them or it despises them, or it gets rid of and rejects them by some distinction, with violent and injurious prejudice, rather than sacrifice the authority of its first conclusions.”
About This Quote
Human understanding clings to initial assumptions, dismissing contradictory evidence to protect its original conclusions.
In simple terms: Confirmation bias in reasoning
Key Takeaway
Preconceptions block new evidence
Themes
cognitive bias
epistemology
critical thinking
psychology
philosophy
Mood
skeptical
reflective
cautious
Type
aphorism
observation
philosophical statement
When to use this quote
- scientific research
- policy making
- personal decision making
- academic debate
- media analysis
Key Concepts
confirmation bias
authority bias
closed-mindedness
Practical Applications
- encouraging peer review
- promoting open inquiry
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we recognize when we are protecting a prior belief?
- What strategies help us remain open to contradictory evidence?
