--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best of ideas is hurt by uncritical…" description: "\"The best of ideas is hurt by uncritical acceptance and thrives on critical examination.\" — George Polya" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/george-polya-10766_acceptance_the-best-of-ideas-is-hurt-by-uncritical_957017.png" --- # The best of ideas is hurt by uncritical acceptance and… ![“The best of ideas is hurt by uncritical acceptance and thrives on critical examination.” quote by George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/george-polya-10766_acceptance_the-best-of-ideas-is-hurt-by-uncritical_957017.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/george-polya-10766_acceptance_the-best-of-ideas-is-hurt-by-uncritical_957017.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/george-polya-10766_acceptance_the-best-of-ideas-is-hurt-by-uncritical_957017.png) > “The best of ideas is hurt by uncritical acceptance and thrives on critical examination.” [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ideas thrive when critically examined; uncritical acceptance harms them. **In simple terms:** Ideas need critical scrutiny. Key Takeaway Question assumptions regularly. Themes critical thinking ideas analysis Mood analytical thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic research - product development - policy making Key Concepts skepticism intellectual rigor innovation Questions to Reflect On - When is it okay to accept an idea without critique? - How do you balance critique and support? A Different Perspective Excessive criticism can stifle creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) ## Related quotes > [The great snare of thought is uncritical acceptance of irrational assumptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/the-great-snare-of-thought-is-uncritical-acceptance-of-irrational/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) > [Belief is the uncritical acceptance of something you can't prove.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-holzer/belief-is-the-uncritical-acceptance-of-something-you-can-t-prove/) [Hans Holzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-holzer/) > [There's so much of, it could have been a very critical examination of what happened, and really the emotional lives of the people involved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-northam/there-s-so-much-of-it-could-have-been-a-very-critical-examination-of/) [Jeremy Northam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-northam/) > [The principles and modes of governments are too important to be disregarded by an inquisitive mind and I think are well worthy a critical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-principles-and-modes-of-governments-are-too-important-to-be/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [“I envied my uncritical, unthinking sisters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/i-envied-my-uncritical-unthinking-sisters/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [... uncritical love is the only real treasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/uncritical-love-is-the-only-real-treasure/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [There is no virtue in being uncritical; nor is it a habit to which the young are given. But criticism is only the burying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-livingstone/there-is-no-virtue-in-being-uncritical-nor-is-it-a-habit-to-which-the/) [Richard Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-livingstone/) > [Uncritical American boosterism - automatic endorsement of every government action - is myopic and self-defeating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/uncritical-american-boosterism-automatic-endorsement-of-every/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [“No young person on earth is so excellent in all respects as to need no uncritical love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/no-young-person-on-earth-is-so-excellent-in-all-respects-as-to-need/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Only the most uncritical minds are free from doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/only-the-most-uncritical-minds-are-free-from-doubt/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [Uncritical semantics is the myth of a museum in which the exhibits are meanings and the words are labels. To switch languages is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willard-van-orman-quine/uncritical-semantics-is-the-myth-of-a-museum-in-which-the-exhibits/) [Willard Van Orman Quine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willard-van-orman-quine/) > [If we are uncritical we shall always find what we want: we shall look for, and find, confirmations, and we shall look away from,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/if-we-are-uncritical-we-shall-always-find-what-we-want-we-shall-look/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [If you have to prove a theorem, do not rush. First of all, understand fully what the theorem says, try to see clearly what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/if-you-have-to-prove-a-theorem-do-not-rush-first-of-all-understand/) [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) > [The examining physician often hesitates to make the necessary examination because it involves soiling the finger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james-mayo/the-examining-physician-often-hesitates-to-make-the-necessary/) [William James Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james-mayo/) > [“Remaining absolutely non-acquisitive (aparigrahi) amidst all possessions is the ultimate ‘test examination’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/remaining-absolutely-non-acquisitive-aparigrahi-amidst-all/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) ## More by George Polya > [Pedantry and mastery are opposite attitudes toward rules. To apply a rule to the letter, rigidly, unquestioningly, in cases where it fits and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/pedantry-and-mastery-are-opposite-attitudes-toward-rules-to-apply-a/) [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) > [A GREAT discovery solves a great problem but there is a grain of discovery in any problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/a-great-discovery-solves-a-great-problem-but-there-is-a-grain-of/) [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) > [Where should I start? Start from the statement of the problem. ... What can I do? Visualize the problem as a whole as clearly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/where-should-i-start-start-from-the-statement-of-the-problem-what-can/) [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) > [In order to translate a sentence from English into French two things are necessary. First, we must understand thoroughly the English sentence. Second, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/in-order-to-translate-a-sentence-from-english-into-french-two-things/) [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) > [Look around when you have got your first mushroom or made your first discovery: they grow in clusters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/look-around-when-you-have-got-your-first-mushroom-or-made-your-first/) [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) > [Beauty in mathematics is seeing the truth without effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/beauty-in-mathematics-is-seeing-the-truth-without-effort/) [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) > [I am too good for philosophy and not good enough for physics. Mathematics is in between.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/i-am-too-good-for-philosophy-and-not-good-enough-for-physics/) [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) > [Solving problems is a practical art, like swimming, or skiing, or playing the piano: you can learn it only by imitation and practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/solving-problems-is-a-practical-art-like-swimming-or-skiing-or/) [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) > [An idea which can be used only once is a trick. If one can use it more than once it becomes a method.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/an-idea-which-can-be-used-only-once-is-a-trick-if-one-can-use-it-more/) [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) > [To teach effectively a teacher must develop a feeling for his subject; he cannot make his students sense its vitality if he does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/to-teach-effectively-a-teacher-must-develop-a-feeling-for-his-subject/) [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) > [The world is anxious to admire that apex and culmination of modern mathematics: a theorem so perfectly general that no particular application of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/the-world-is-anxious-to-admire-that-apex-and-culmination-of-modern/) [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) > [The first rule of discovery is to have brains and good luck. The second rule of discovery is to sit tight and wait till…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/the-first-rule-of-discovery-is-to-have-brains-and-good-luck-the/) [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) > [Hilbert once had a student in mathematics who stopped coming to his lectures, and he was finally told the young man had gone off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/hilbert-once-had-a-student-in-mathematics-who-stopped-coming-to-his/) [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) > [Geometry is the science of correct reasoning on incorrect figures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/geometry-is-the-science-of-correct-reasoning-on-incorrect-figures/) [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) > [An idea which can be used once is a trick. If it can be used more than once it becomes a method.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/an-idea-which-can-be-used-once-is-a-trick-if-it-can-be-used-more-than/) [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) [Explore all 63 George Polya quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) ## More Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Acceptance of death when it arrives is one thing, but to allow it to upstage the joys of living is ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-blythe/acceptance-of-death-when-it-arrives-is-one-thing-but-to-allow-it-to/) [Ronald Blythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-blythe/) > [“Loving someone who does not love you back hurts, alot, i know. It is liking seeing these pair of shoes at the retail store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/loving-someone-who-does-not-love-you-back-hurts-alot-i-know-it-is/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/) [Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sense-that-in-this-universe-we-are-treated-as-strangers-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,960 Acceptance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The best of ideas is hurt by uncritical acceptance and thrives on critical examination.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Polya" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/the-best-of-ideas-is-hurt-by-uncritical-acceptance-and-thrives-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acceptance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/the-best-of-ideas-is-hurt-by-uncritical-acceptance-and-thrives-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/george-polya-10766_acceptance_the-best-of-ideas-is-hurt-by-uncritical_957017.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/george-polya-10766_acceptance_the-best-of-ideas-is-hurt-by-uncritical_957017.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/george-polya-10766_acceptance_the-best-of-ideas-is-hurt-by-uncritical_957017.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The best of ideas is hurt by uncritical acceptance and thrives on critical examination.” — George Polya", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "George Polya", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The best of ideas is hurt...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/the-best-of-ideas-is-hurt-by-uncritical-acceptance-and-thrives-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/the-best-of-ideas-is-hurt-by-uncritical-acceptance-and-thrives-on/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```