Authority Quote by George Polya
“You should not put too much trust in any unproved conjecture, even if it has been propounded by a great authority, even if it has been propounded by yourself. You should try to prove it or disprove it.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Mathematics and Plausible Reasoning, 1945
Do not accept unproven ideas without testing; seek proof or refutation.
In simple terms: Question unverified claims and verify them.
Key Takeaway
Always test ideas before believing them.
Themes
critical thinking
science
philosophy
Mood
analytical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- research projects
- academic debates
- product development
- policy analysis
Key Concepts
logic
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence would convince you?
- How do you handle uncertain claims?
A Different Perspective
Proof may be difficult or costly.
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