Arguing Quote by H. L. Mencken
“To argue that the gaps in knowledge which confront the seeker must be filled, not by patient inquiry, but by intuition or revelation, is simply to give ignorance a gratuitous and preposterous dignity.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The American Language", 1919
Mencken argues that relying on intuition or revelation to fill knowledge gaps is a foolish way to give ignorance unwarranted respect.
In simple terms: Intuition cannot replace rigorous inquiry.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize evidence over intuition.
Themes
knowledge
intuition
science
skepticism
epistemology
Mood
inquisitive
skeptical
Type
philosophical
scientific
When to use this quote
- research
- education
- scientific method
- philosophical debate
Key Concepts
philosophy
science
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How can intuition be responsibly used in research?
- What safeguards prevent pseudo‑knowledge?
A Different Perspective
Intuition can inspire hypotheses but must be tested.
![“By profession a biologist, [Thomas Henry Huxley] covered in fact the whole field of the exact sciences, and then bulged through its four fences. Absolutely nothing was uninteresting to him. His curiosity ranged from music to theology and from philosophy to history. He didn't simply know something…” quote by H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f46/h-l-mencken-245_absolutely-nothing_by-profession-a-biologist-thomas-henry-h_5368.jpg)
