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Believe Quote by Jonah Lehrer

“[It's] troubling because it reminds us how difficult it is to prove anything. We like to pretend that our experiments define the truth for us. But that's often not the case. Just because an idea is true doesn't mean it can be proved. And just because an idea can be proved doesn't mean it's true…” quote by Jonah Lehrer
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“[It's] troubling because it reminds us how difficult it is to prove anything. We like to pretend that our experiments define the truth for us. But that's often not the case. Just because an idea is true doesn't mean it can be proved. And just because an idea can be proved doesn't mean it's true. When the experiments are done, we still have to choose what to believe.”

Jonah Lehrer

About This Quote

Source Book: “How We Decide”, 2010

The passage highlights the gap between truth and proof, urging that belief choices remain after experiments, reflecting epistemic limits.

In simple terms: Truth isn’t always provable; belief follows.

Key Takeaway

Accept uncertainty in knowledge.

Themes

philosophy science epistemology critical thinking

Mood

skeptical inquisitive

Type

intellectual analytical

When to use this quote

  • research
  • education
  • policy making

Key Concepts

falsifiability bias interpretation

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you decide when evidence is insufficient?
  • What role does intuition play in belief?
A Different Perspective

Overreliance on proof can stifle insight.

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