--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whenever it is necessary that one of…" description: "\"Whenever it is necessary that one of several conflicting opinions should prevail and when one would have to be made to prevail by force if need be, it ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/friedrich-august-von-hayek-141_conflicting-opinions_whenever-it-is-necessary-that-one-of-sev_486148.jpg" --- # Whenever it is necessary that one of several conflicting… ![“Whenever it is necessary that one of several conflicting opinions should prevail and when one would have to be made to prevail by force if need be, it is less wasteful to determine which has the stronger support by counting numbers than by fighting.” quote by Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/friedrich-august-von-hayek-141_conflicting-opinions_whenever-it-is-necessary-that-one-of-sev_486148.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/friedrich-august-von-hayek-141_conflicting-opinions_whenever-it-is-necessary-that-one-of-sev_486148.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/friedrich-august-von-hayek-141_conflicting-opinions_whenever-it-is-necessary-that-one-of-sev_486148.jpg) > “Whenever it is necessary that one of several conflicting opinions should prevail and when one would have to be made to prevail by force if need be, it is less wasteful to determine which has the stronger support by counting numbers than by fighting.” [Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing the view with more evidence is more efficient than forcing agreement through conflict. **In simple terms:** Use evidence, not force, to settle disputes. Key Takeaway Seek data, avoid conflict. Themes rationality decision‑making conflict resolution Mood analytical pragmatic Type philosophical advisory When to use this quote - policy debates - team meetings - scientific research - legal judgments Key Concepts economics public choice statistical reasoning Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure minority perspectives are heard? - When is consensus more valuable than majority rule? A Different Perspective Counting numbers may overlook minority rights or qualitative factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conflicting opinions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflicting-opinions/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) ## Related quotes > [True opinions can prevail only if the facts to which they refer are known; if they are not known, false ideas are just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/true-opinions-can-prevail-only-if-the-facts-to-which-they-refer-are/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [It is because the public are a mass inert, obtuse, and passive that they need to be shaken up from time to time so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-jarry/it-is-because-the-public-are-a-mass-inert-obtuse-and-passive-that/) [Alfred Jarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-jarry/) > [If there is no absolute moral standard, then one cannot say in a final sense that anything is right or wrong. By absolute we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/if-there-is-no-absolute-moral-standard-then-one-cannot-say-in-a-final-2/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [If there is no absolute beyond man's ideas, then there is no final appeal to judge between individuals and groups whose moral judgments conflict.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/if-there-is-no-absolute-beyond-man-s-ideas-then-there-is-no-final/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [ That's give \[Donald Trump\] so much attention. And it's so funny. There actually have conflicting opinions on women in combat, in the military. 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Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [If there is no absolute moral standard, then one cannot say in a final sense that anything is right or wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/if-there-is-no-absolute-moral-standard-then-one-cannot-say-in-a-final/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [Crime is contagious…if the government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/crime-is-contagious-if-the-government-becomes-a-lawbreaker-it-breeds/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [There is no perfect strategic decision. One always has to pay a price. One always has to balance conflicting objectives, conflicting opinions, and conflicting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/there-is-no-perfect-strategic-decision-one-always-has-to-pay-a-price/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [In the frank expression of conflicting opinions lies the greatest promise of wisdom in governmental action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/in-the-frank-expression-of-conflicting-opinions-lies-the-greatest/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [ That's give \[Donald Trump\] so much attention. And it's so funny. There actually have conflicting opinions on women in combat, in the military. So… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/that-s-give-donald-trump-so-much-attention-and-it-s-so-funny-there/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [If there is no absolute beyond man's ideas, then there is no final appeal to judge between individuals and groups whose moral judgments conflict.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/if-there-is-no-absolute-beyond-man-s-ideas-then-there-is-no-final/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [If there is no absolute moral standard, then one cannot say in a final sense that anything is right or wrong. 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