--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Facts are stubborn things; and whatever…" description: "\"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/john-adams-529_evidence_facts-are-stubborn-things-and-whatever-m_600550.jpg" --- # Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes… ![“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/john-adams-529_evidence_facts-are-stubborn-things-and-whatever-m_600550.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/john-adams-529_evidence_facts-are-stubborn-things-and-whatever-m_600550.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/john-adams-529_evidence_facts-are-stubborn-things-and-whatever-m_600550.jpg) > “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Facts remain unchanged regardless of desires or emotions; evidence cannot be reshaped by wishes. **In simple terms:** Facts are immutable despite wishes. Key Takeaway Base decisions on evidence, not hopes. Themes truth evidence politics Mood reflective serious Type philosophical political When to use this quote - policy making - legal arguments - scientific research Key Concepts epistemology rationalism Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle facts that challenge your views? - What steps ensure evidence guides decisions? A Different Perspective People often ignore facts that conflict with beliefs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evidence/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Facts Are Stubborn Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts-are-stubborn-things-213549/) [Facts Evidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts-evidence-2059778/) [Facts Stubborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts-stubborn-1885026/) [Inclinations Dictates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inclinations-dictates-4898088/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Stubborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stubborn/) [Stubborn Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stubborn-things-795278/) ## Related quotes > [Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/facts-are-stubborn-things-and-whatever-may-be-our-wishes-our-2/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are pliable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/facts-are-stubborn-things-but-statistics-are-pliable/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Facts are stubborn things, but, as some one has wisely said, not half so stubborn as fallacies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/facts-are-stubborn-things-but-as-some-one-has-wisely-said-not-half-so/) [Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/) > [doubts, like facts, are stubborn things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/doubts-like-facts-are-stubborn-things/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [Facts are stubborn things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/facts-are-stubborn-things/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are more pliable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-laurence-j-peter/facts-are-stubborn-things-but-statistics-are-more-pliable/) [Dr Laurence J Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-laurence-j-peter/) > [Facts are stubborn, but statistics are more pliable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/facts-are-stubborn-but-statistics-are-more-pliable/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [You are just in the middle of a struggle with words which are really very stubborn things, with a blank page, with the damn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-cabrera-infante/you-are-just-in-the-middle-of-a-struggle-with-words-which-are-really/) [Guillermo Cabrera Infante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-cabrera-infante/) > [It is clear that I am a person who believes fundamentally in facts, evidence, data, and science, which supports decision-making and allows us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-payette/it-is-clear-that-i-am-a-person-who-believes-fundamentally-in-facts/) [Julie Payette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-payette/) > [My only master, my only mistress are the facts and the evidence. 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Finally, it is accepted as self-evident. Facts are stubborn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/all-truth-goes-through-three-stages-first-it-is-ridiculed-then-it-is/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Numbers are stubborn things!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-santo/numbers-are-stubborn-things/) [DON SANTO](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-santo/) > [Matters of fact, which as Mr Budgell somewhere observes, are very stubborn things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-tindal/matters-of-fact-which-as-mr-budgell-somewhere-observes-are-very/) [Matthew Tindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-tindal/) ## More by John Adams > [Historically, usury was defined as any interest whatever on an unproductive loan.Our whole banking system I have ever abhorred, I continue to abhor, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/historically-usury-was-defined-as-any-interest-whatever-on-an/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“Daughter! Get you an honest Man for a Husband, and keep him honest. No matter whether he is rich, provided he be independent. Regard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/daughter-get-you-an-honest-man-for-a-husband-and-keep-him-honest-no/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-general-principles-on-which-the-fathers-achieved-independence/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [We may... affirm that the balance of power in a society accompanies the balance of property in land. The only possible way, then, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/we-may-affirm-that-the-balance-of-power-in-a-society-accompanies-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“The longer I live, the more I read, the more patiently I think, and the more anxiously I inquire, the less I seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-longer-i-live-the-more-i-read-the-more-patiently-i-think-and-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/but-what-do-we-mean-by-the-american-revolution-do-we-mean-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“Upon common theaters, indeed, the applause of the audience is of more importance to the actors than their own aprobation. But upon the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/upon-common-theaters-indeed-the-applause-of-the-audience-is-of-more/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [There are only two creatures of value on the face of the earth: those with the commitment, and those who require the commitment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/there-are-only-two-creatures-of-value-on-the-face-of-the-earth-those/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [ I will insist the Hebrews have \[contributed\] more to civilize men than any other nation. If I was an atheist and believed in blind… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-will-insist-the-hebrews-have-contributed-more-to-civilize-men-than/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity and happiness of the people; and not for the profit, honor, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/government-is-instituted-for-the-common-good-for-the-protection/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Make Things rather than Persons the subjects of conversations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/make-things-rather-than-persons-the-subjects-of-conversations/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [During the whole time I sat with him in Congress, I never heard him utter three sentences together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/during-the-whole-time-i-sat-with-him-in-congress-i-never-heard-him/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Religion and virtue are the only foundations, not of republicanism and of all free government, but of social felicity under all government and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/religion-and-virtue-are-the-only-foundations-not-of-republicanism-and/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [The universal object and idol of men of letters is reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-universal-object-and-idol-of-men-of-letters-is-reputation/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [I consider a decent respect for Christianity among the best recommendations for public service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-consider-a-decent-respect-for-christianity-among-the-best/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) [Explore all 495 John Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) ## More Evidence quotes > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [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/) > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [“What you owe your critics are your RESULTS not explanations not defence just RESULTS.Evidence terminates Arguments.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fela-durotoye/what-you-owe-your-critics-are-your-results-not-explanations-not/) [Fela Durotoye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fela-durotoye/) > [“Dogmatism compensates for evidence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-wallace/dogmatism-compensates-for-evidence/) [Dana Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-wallace/) > [“Cops aren't really your friends, they are trying to be your friends but they are not… - They are searching evidence to PIN YOU.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deyth-banger/cops-aren-t-really-your-friends-they-are-trying-to-be-your-friends/) [Deyth Banger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deyth-banger/) > [There's overwhelming evidence... circumstantial and otherwise, to suggest a connection between Iraq and al Qaeda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/there-s-overwhelming-evidence-circumstantial-and-otherwise-to-suggest/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“Human unhappiness is evidence of our immortality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/human-unhappiness-is-evidence-of-our-immortality/) [Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/) > [The state is in danger of falling into disrepute due to the evidence of its inadequate resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurgen-habermas/the-state-is-in-danger-of-falling-into-disrepute-due-to-the-evidence/) [Jurgen Habermas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurgen-habermas/) > [You are innocent until proven guilty. And if folks have come forward, whether it is judge Roy Moore or whether it is anyone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/you-are-innocent-until-proven-guilty-and-if-folks-have-come-forward/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) > [There is still zero empirical evidence that anthropogenic production of CO2 is making any measurable contribution to the world's present warming trend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-cockburn/there-is-still-zero-empirical-evidence-that-anthropogenic-production/) [Alexander Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-cockburn/) > [“‎If you regard evidence as a constraint and seek to free yourself, you sell yourself into the chains of your whims. 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