--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a person is capable of rectifying his…" description: "\"If a person is capable of rectifying his erroneous judgments in the light of new evidence he is not prejudiced. Prejudgments become prejudices only if ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc2/gordon-allport-29384_bias_if-a-person-is-capable-of-rectifying-his_2126418.jpg" --- # If a person is capable of rectifying his erroneous… ![“If a person is capable of rectifying his erroneous judgments in the light of new evidence he is not prejudiced. Prejudgments become prejudices only if they are reversible when exposed to new knowledge. A prejudice, unlike a simple misconception, is actively resistant to all evidence that would…” quote by Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc2/gordon-allport-29384_bias_if-a-person-is-capable-of-rectifying-his_2126418.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc2/gordon-allport-29384_bias_if-a-person-is-capable-of-rectifying-his_2126418.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc2/gordon-allport-29384_bias_if-a-person-is-capable-of-rectifying-his_2126418.jpg) > “If a person is capable of rectifying his erroneous judgments in the light of new evidence he is not prejudiced. Prejudgments become prejudices only if they are reversible when exposed to new knowledge. A prejudice, unlike a simple misconception, is actively resistant to all evidence that would unseat it. We tend to grow emotional when a prejudice is threatened with contradiction. Thus the difference between ordinary prejudgments and prejudice is that one can discuss and rectify a prejudgment without emotional resistance.” [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being open to new evidence allows us to correct mistaken beliefs, while prejudice resists change and triggers emotional defensiveness. **In simple terms:** Open-mindedness correct prejudice resists change. Key Takeaway Seek evidence, stay flexible. Themes open-mindedness bias critical thinking Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - debates - scientific research - personal growth - conflict resolution Key Concepts cognitive flexibility emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize when a belief is a prejudice? - What strategies help you stay open to contradictory evidence? A Different Perspective Prejudices can be deeply entrenched, making rational discussion difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bias/) [Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable/) [Contradiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradiction/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Evidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evidence/) [Evidence Prejudiced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evidence-prejudiced-4362736/) [Exposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exposed/) [Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grows/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Misconception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misconception/) [New knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-knowledge/) [Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Prejudgments Prejudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudgments-prejudice-4362732/) [Prejudgments Prejudices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudgments-prejudices-4362733/) [Prejudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudice/) [Prejudiced Prejudgments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudiced-prejudgments-4362734/) [Prejudices Reversible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudices-reversible-4362735/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Rectify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rectify/) [Resistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resistance/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Threatened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threatened/) ## Related quotes > [Prejudgments become prejudices only if they are not reversible when exposed to new knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/prejudgments-become-prejudices-only-if-they-are-not-reversible-when/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [For me, when I go to bed at night, I am happy that I haven't hurt someone. And if I think I have, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-davis/for-me-when-i-go-to-bed-at-night-i-am-happy-that-i-haven-t-hurt/) [Lucy Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-davis/) > [It is not enough to be compassionate. You must act. There are two aspects to action. One is to overcome the distortions and afflictions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/it-is-not-enough-to-be-compassionate-you-must-act-there-are-two/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I don't need anyone to rectify my existence. The most profound relationship we will ever have is the one with ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-don-t-need-anyone-to-rectify-my-existence-the-most-profound/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [When you Rectify your Relationship with the Creator, He Rectifies your relationship with All of the Creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/when-you-rectify-your-relationship-with-the-creator-he-rectifies-your/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [What is necessary is to rectify names.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/what-is-necessary-is-to-rectify-names/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The most useful form of time travel would be to go back a year or two and rectify the mistakes we made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lucas/the-most-useful-form-of-time-travel-would-be-to-go-back-a-year-or-two/) [Matt Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lucas/) > [You cannot rectify grievances from the past with today's charity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/you-cannot-rectify-grievances-from-the-past-with-today-s-charity/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [I don't think history is stupid.History ultimately rectifies a lot of these things. If you had to ask me what I think happens in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-armstrong/i-don-t-think-history-is-stupid-history-ultimately-rectifies-a-lot-of/) [Lance Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-armstrong/) > [Atrocity never balances or rectifies the past. Atrocity merely arms the future for more atrocity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/atrocity-never-balances-or-rectifies-the-past-atrocity-merely-arms/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [The Tao has no place for pettiness, and nor has Virtue. Pettiness is dangerous to Virtue; pettiness is dangerous to the Tao. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/the-tao-has-no-place-for-pettiness-and-nor-has-virtue-pettiness-is/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [The thing with 'Mortal Kombat' is we really deal with that: What is the right thing to do? When somebody does something bad, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dacascos/the-thing-with-mortal-kombat-is-we-really-deal-with-that-what-is-the/) [Mark Dacascos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dacascos/) > [The reason I keep making movies is I hate the last thing I did. I'm trying to rectify my wrongs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/the-reason-i-keep-making-movies-is-i-hate-the-last-thing-i-did-i-m/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [...He palmed up the life Alert. Death Alert was more like it: Help, I haven't fallen and I'm standing up-can you come and rectify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/he-palmed-up-the-life-alert-death-alert-was-more-like-it-help-i-haven/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## More by Gordon Allport > [The specific goals we set for ourselves are almost always subsidiary to our long range intentions. A good parent, a good neighbour, a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/the-specific-goals-we-set-for-ourselves-are-almost-always-subsidiary/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [The mature religious sentiment is ordinarily fashioned in the workshop of doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/the-mature-religious-sentiment-is-ordinarily-fashioned-in-the/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [The theist is persuaded that while nothing that contradicts science is likely to be true, still nothing that stops with science can be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/the-theist-is-persuaded-that-while-nothing-that-contradicts-science/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [Life is too short so we must generalize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/life-is-too-short-so-we-must-generalize/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [ Since we think about ourselves so much of the time, it is comforting to assume ... that we really know the score… \[But\] this… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/since-we-think-about-ourselves-so-much-of-the-time-it-is-comforting/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [Personality is and does something...It is what lies behind specific acts and within the individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/personality-is-and-does-something-it-is-what-lies-behind-specific/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [ The dog \[in Pavlov's experiments\] does not continue to salivate whenever it hears a bell unless sometimes at least an edible offering accompanies the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/the-dog-in-pavlov-s-experiments-does-not-continue-to-salivate/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [The scientist, by the very nature of his commitment, creates more and more questions, never fewer. Indeed the measure of our intellectual maturity, one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/the-scientist-by-the-very-nature-of-his-commitment-creates-more-and/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [People who are aware of, and ashamed of, their prejudices are well on the road to eliminating them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/people-who-are-aware-of-and-ashamed-of-their-prejudices-are-well-on/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [Love received and love given comprise the best form of therapy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/love-received-and-love-given-comprise-the-best-form-of-therapy/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [If there is a purpose in life at all, there must be a purpose in suffering and in dying. But no man can tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/if-there-is-a-purpose-in-life-at-all-there-must-be-a-purpose-in/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [Reason adapts impulses and beliefs into the real world; rationalization, on the other hand, adapts the concept of reality to the impulses and beliefs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/reason-adapts-impulses-and-beliefs-into-the-real-world/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [Many studies have discovered a close link between prejudice and "patriotism" . . . Extreme bigots are almost always super-patriots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/many-studies-have-discovered-a-close-link-between-prejudice-and/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [There is a story of an Oxford student who once remarked, "I despise all Americans, but have never met one I didn't like."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/there-is-a-story-of-an-oxford-student-who-once-remarked-i-despise-all/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [Prejudgments become prejudices only if they are not reversible when exposed to new knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/prejudgments-become-prejudices-only-if-they-are-not-reversible-when/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) [Explore all 18 Gordon Allport quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) ## More Bias quotes > [The print is devised so that I can cut the dresses on the bias, so they work around the body. It's not like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galliano/the-print-is-devised-so-that-i-can-cut-the-dresses-on-the-bias-so/) [John Galliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galliano/) > [“Mental illness is not something you misunderstand in this era. Get educated because bias is no different than racism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/mental-illness-is-not-something-you-misunderstand-in-this-era-get/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > ["Natural" is a very dangerous word to use about sexuality ... Our society's notions of normality are completely fake and meta-trendy, since they rely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susie-bright/natural-is-a-very-dangerous-word-to-use-about-sexuality-our-society-s/) [Susie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susie-bright/) > [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. It makes its own limited models of things; operating upon these indices or variables to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/science-manipulates-things-and-gives-up-living-in-them-it-makes-its/) [Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/) > [Fortunately for serious minds, a bias recognized is a bias sterilized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/fortunately-for-serious-minds-a-bias-recognized-is-a-bias-sterilized/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [I can say this very clearly: I have come into this Congress with an antiwar bias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-frankel/i-can-say-this-very-clearly-i-have-come-into-this-congress-with-an/) [Lois Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-frankel/) > [The legal bias for special protection for women has begun to wreak havoc with the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/the-legal-bias-for-special-protection-for-women-has-begun-to-wreak/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [That's awesome. There's no bias in the media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-edwards/that-s-awesome-there-s-no-bias-in-the-media/) [Carl Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-edwards/) > [“The most disgusting human trait is bias, because it typically leads to propaganda, hate and violence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-lifsey/the-most-disgusting-human-trait-is-bias-because-it-typically-leads-to/) [Lori Lifsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-lifsey/) > [I'm speaking out against social media bias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-loomer/i-m-speaking-out-against-social-media-bias/) [Laura Loomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-loomer/) > [“I pick up a copy of Newsweek on the plane and immediately notice how biased, slanted, and opinionated all the U.S. newsmagazine articles are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-pick-up-a-copy-of-newsweek-on-the-plane-and-immediately-notice-how/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [“Hundreds of studies confirm that human forecasts are flawed and biased. Human decision making is not so great either. Again to take just one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-h-thaler/hundreds-of-studies-confirm-that-human-forecasts-are-flawed-and/) [Richard H. Thaler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-h-thaler/) > [“Many journalists now are no more than channelers and echoers of what George Orwell called the 'official truth'. They simply cipher and transmit lies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/many-journalists-now-are-no-more-than-channelers-and-echoers-of-what/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [The stance I took was there is no room for racial bias anywhere in sports. I believe that was basically all I said about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-larkin/the-stance-i-took-was-there-is-no-room-for-racial-bias-anywhere-in/) [Barry Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-larkin/) > [First and foremost, if you want to be a good writer, you need to be a good eater. You need to be fearless when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-leong/first-and-foremost-if-you-want-to-be-a-good-writer-you-need-to-be-a/) [Melissa Leong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-leong/) [Browse all 667 Bias quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bias/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If a person is capable of rectifying his erroneous judgments in the light of new evidence he is not prejudiced. Prejudgments become prejudices only if they are reversible when exposed to new knowledge. A prejudice, unlike a simple misconception, is actively resistant to all evidence that would unseat it. We tend to grow emotional when a prejudice is threatened with contradiction. Thus the difference between ordinary prejudgments and prejudice is that one can discuss and rectify a prejudgment without emotional resistance.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gordon Allport" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/if-a-person-is-capable-of-rectifying-his-erroneous-judgments-in-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bias" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/if-a-person-is-capable-of-rectifying-his-erroneous-judgments-in-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc2/gordon-allport-29384_bias_if-a-person-is-capable-of-rectifying-his_2126418.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc2/gordon-allport-29384_bias_if-a-person-is-capable-of-rectifying-his_2126418.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc2/gordon-allport-29384_bias_if-a-person-is-capable-of-rectifying-his_2126418.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If a person is capable of rectifying his erroneous judgments in the light of new evidence he is not…” — Gordon Allport", "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": "Gordon Allport", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If a person is capable of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/if-a-person-is-capable-of-rectifying-his-erroneous-judgments-in-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/if-a-person-is-capable-of-rectifying-his-erroneous-judgments-in-the/#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 } } ] } ```