--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All new ideas pass through three stages…" description: "\"All new ideas pass through three stages: first they are dismissed as nonsense, then they are rejected as being against religion and finally they are ac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/karl-ernst-von-baer-61894_against-religion_all-new-ideas-pass-through-three-stages_1466643.png" --- # All new ideas pass through three stages: first they are… ![“All new ideas pass through three stages: first they are dismissed as nonsense, then they are rejected as being against religion and finally they are acknowledged as the truth, with the proviso from the initial opponents that they knew it all along.” quote by Karl Ernst von Baer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/karl-ernst-von-baer-61894_against-religion_all-new-ideas-pass-through-three-stages_1466643.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/karl-ernst-von-baer-61894_against-religion_all-new-ideas-pass-through-three-stages_1466643.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/karl-ernst-von-baer-61894_against-religion_all-new-ideas-pass-through-three-stages_1466643.png) > “All new ideas pass through three stages: first they are dismissed as nonsense, then they are rejected as being against religion and finally they are acknowledged as the truth, with the proviso from the initial opponents that they knew it all along.” [Karl Ernst von Baer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ernst-von-baer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ideas often face initial ridicule, then opposition from established beliefs, before finally being accepted as truth, with skeptics claiming hindsight. **In simple terms:** New ideas are first mocked, then resisted, then accepted. Key Takeaway Expect resistance, stay patient. Themes innovation belief truth skepticism history Mood curious reflective Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - scientific research - technological breakthroughs - cultural reforms - policy changes Key Concepts cognitive bias social dynamics paradigm shift Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle criticism of novel ideas? - What factors turn opposition into acceptance? A Different Perspective Acceptance may be delayed and contested, not immediate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Against religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/against-religion/) [Dismissed Nonsense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dismissed-nonsense-5311123/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Initials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/initials/) [New ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-ideas/) [Nonsense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonsense/) [Nonsense Rejected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonsense-rejected-3237581/) [Opponents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opponents/) [Rejected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejected/) [Rejected Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejected-religion-1897762/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Finally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-finally-3132306/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Stages Dismissed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stages-dismissed-5311124/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [A great idea goes through three stages on its way to acceptance: 1) it is dismissed as nonsense, 2) it is acknowledged as true,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/a-great-idea-goes-through-three-stages-on-its-way-to-acceptance-1-it/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [“The usual consolations of life, friendship and sex included, appealed to Newton hardly at all. Art, literature, and music had scarcely more allure. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-dolnick/the-usual-consolations-of-life-friendship-and-sex-included-appealed/) [Edward Dolnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-dolnick/) > [I know that Arnold Toynby, the great historian, said he had always hoped the religions of the world would evolve until they began to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-know-that-arnold-toynby-the-great-historian-said-he-had-always/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [The signs of the antichrist spirit are clear. They emerge in this fashion: A significant minority then an actual majority, of the people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/the-signs-of-the-antichrist-spirit-are-clear-they-emerge-in-this/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [“Many autistics have rejected God and rejected religion, because they, or someone they know, have been subjected to the ministrations of faith healers, or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-d-taylor/many-autistics-have-rejected-god-and-rejected-religion-because-they/) [Thomas D. Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-d-taylor/) > [I never rejected religion, but it just ceased to be an overriding concern in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lowery/i-never-rejected-religion-but-it-just-ceased-to-be-an-overriding/) [David Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lowery/) > [“I have rejected religion and society. What is left for me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-a-craig/i-have-rejected-religion-and-society-what-is-left-for-me/) [Daniel A. Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-a-craig/) > [ The rebellious mood of the country during those \[60th\] years allowed me to plug right back into my old hatreds. I could scream and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-rebellious-mood-of-the-country-during-those-60th-years-allowed-me/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a virgin, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-day-will-come-when-the-mystical-generation-of-jesus-by-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am for religion, against religions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/i-am-for-religion-against-religions/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/ridicule-is-the-only-weapon-which-can-be-used-against-unintelligible/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [y feelings as a Christian points me to my Lord and Savior as a fighter. It points me to the man who once in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/y-feelings-as-a-christian-points-me-to-my-lord-and-savior-as-a/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [I am an intransigent atheist, though not a militant one. This means that I am not fighting against religion - I am fighting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/i-am-an-intransigent-atheist-though-not-a-militant-one-this-means/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [What I have against religion is that they start you when you are so defenseless. I mean, I was three when they started pumping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/what-i-have-against-religion-is-that-they-start-you-when-you-are-so/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [We were convinced that the people need and require this faith. We have therefore undertaken the fight against the atheistic movement, and that not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/we-were-convinced-that-the-people-need-and-require-this-faith-we-have/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) ## More by Karl Ernst von Baer > [The distinguishing of the strata, or layers, in the embryonic membrane was a turning-point in the study of the history of evolution, and placed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ernst-von-baer/the-distinguishing-of-the-strata-or-layers-in-the-embryonic-membrane/) [Karl Ernst von Baer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ernst-von-baer/) > [The development of the Vertebrate proceeds from an axis upward, in two layers, which coalesce at the edges, and also downward, in two layers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ernst-von-baer/the-development-of-the-vertebrate-proceeds-from-an-axis-upward-in-two/) [Karl Ernst von Baer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ernst-von-baer/) > [The History of Evolution is the real source of light in the investigation of organic bodies. It is applicable at every step, and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ernst-von-baer/the-history-of-evolution-is-the-real-source-of-light-in-the/) [Karl Ernst von Baer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ernst-von-baer/) > [Know thyself! This is the source of all wisdom, said the great thinkers of the past, and the sentence was written in golden letters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ernst-von-baer/know-thyself-this-is-the-source-of-all-wisdom-said-the-great-thinkers/) [Karl Ernst von Baer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ernst-von-baer/) [Explore all 5 Karl Ernst von Baer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ernst-von-baer/) ## More Against religion quotes > [We were convinced that the people need and require this faith. We have therefore undertaken the fight against the atheistic movement, and that not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/we-were-convinced-that-the-people-need-and-require-this-faith-we-have/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [What I have against religion is that they start you when you are so defenseless. I mean, I was three when they started pumping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/what-i-have-against-religion-is-that-they-start-you-when-you-are-so/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [I am an intransigent atheist, though not a militant one. This means that I am not fighting against religion - I am fighting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/i-am-an-intransigent-atheist-though-not-a-militant-one-this-means/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [y feelings as a Christian points me to my Lord and Savior as a fighter. It points me to the man who once in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/y-feelings-as-a-christian-points-me-to-my-lord-and-savior-as-a/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/ridicule-is-the-only-weapon-which-can-be-used-against-unintelligible/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am for religion, against religions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/i-am-for-religion-against-religions/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a virgin, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-day-will-come-when-the-mystical-generation-of-jesus-by-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ The rebellious mood of the country during those \[60th\] years allowed me to plug right back into my old hatreds. I could scream and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-rebellious-mood-of-the-country-during-those-60th-years-allowed-me/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Religious controversies are always productive of more acrimony and irreconcilable hatreds than those which spring from any other cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/religious-controversies-are-always-productive-of-more-acrimony-and/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [If you are asking me if my more global purpose is a battle against religion, it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/if-you-are-asking-me-if-my-more-global-purpose-is-a-battle-against/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [I don't believe in heaven and hell. I don't know if I believe in God. All I know is that as an individual, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/i-don-t-believe-in-heaven-and-hell-i-don-t-know-if-i-believe-in-god/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [The Bible is not my book nor Christianity my profession. I could never give assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-bible-is-not-my-book-nor-christianity-my-profession-i-could-never/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Of all the animosities which have existed among mankind, those which are caused by a difference of sentiments in religion appear to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/of-all-the-animosities-which-have-existed-among-mankind-those-which/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Richard Dawkins says he can't be sure God doesn't exist. Well, you know what I do when I'm not sure about something? I go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-j-fleming/richard-dawkins-says-he-can-t-be-sure-god-doesn-t-exist-well-you-know/) [Frank J. Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-j-fleming/) > [This determined bias against religion, especially Christianity, is clearly evident when viewed against the religious heritage of American culture as revealed in the Church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathew-staver/this-determined-bias-against-religion-especially-christianity-is/) [Mathew Staver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathew-staver/) [Browse all 43 Against religion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/against-religion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "All new ideas pass through three stages: first they are dismissed as nonsense, then they are rejected as being against religion and finally they are acknowledged as the truth, with the proviso from the initial opponents that they knew it all along.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Karl Ernst von Baer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ernst-von-baer/all-new-ideas-pass-through-three-stages-first-they-are-dismissed-as/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Against religion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ernst-von-baer/all-new-ideas-pass-through-three-stages-first-they-are-dismissed-as/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/karl-ernst-von-baer-61894_against-religion_all-new-ideas-pass-through-three-stages_1466643.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/karl-ernst-von-baer-61894_against-religion_all-new-ideas-pass-through-three-stages_1466643.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/karl-ernst-von-baer-61894_against-religion_all-new-ideas-pass-through-three-stages_1466643.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“All new ideas pass through three stages: first they are dismissed as nonsense, then they are rejected as…” — Karl Ernst von Baer", "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": "Karl Ernst von Baer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ernst-von-baer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "All new ideas pass through three...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ernst-von-baer/all-new-ideas-pass-through-three-stages-first-they-are-dismissed-as/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ernst-von-baer/all-new-ideas-pass-through-three-stages-first-they-are-dismissed-as/#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 } } ] } ```