Belief Quote by John Stuart Mill
““Such is the facility with which mankind believe at one and the same time things inconsistent with one another, and so few are those who draw from what they receive as truths, any consequences but those recommended to them by their feelings, that multitudes have held the undoubting belief in an Omnipotent Author of Hell, and have nevertheless identified that being with the one best conception they were able to form of perfect goodness.””
About This Quote
Source Book: On Liberty, John Stuart Mill, 1859
People often accept contradictory beliefs, guided by feelings rather than reason, leading to faith in concepts like an all‑powerful hell while forming imperfect ideas of perfect goodness.
In simple terms: Humans hold conflicting beliefs, driven by emotions, not logic.
Key Takeaway
Question beliefs with reason, not feelings.
Themes
contradiction
belief
reason
faith
morality
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
analytical
skeptical
When to use this quote
- personal decision‑making
- religious discourse
- ethical debates
- education
- public policy
Key Concepts
epistemology
psychology
theology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do feelings shape your convictions?
- Can contradictory beliefs coexist without conflict?
A Different Perspective
Emotions can bias truth‑seeking, limiting objective understanding.
![“[For people] to refuse a hearing to an opinion, because they are sure that it is false, is to assume that their certainty is the same thing as absolute certainty. All silencing of discussion is an assumption of infallibility.” quote by John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c53/john-stuart-mill-477_doubt_for-people-to-refuse-a-hearing-to-an-opi_63929.jpg)
