--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This false epistemology, however, has…" description: "\"“This false epistemology, however, has also led to disastrous consequences. The theory that truth is manifest—that it is there for everyone to see, if ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a3/karl-popper-2167_truth_this-false-epistemology-however-has-also_1493505.jpg" --- # This false epistemology, however, has also led to… ![“This false epistemology, however, has also led to disastrous consequences. The theory that truth is manifest—that it is there for everyone to see, if only he wants to see it—this theory is the basis of almost every kind of fanaticism. For only the most depraved wickedness can refuse to see the…” quote by Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a3/karl-popper-2167_truth_this-false-epistemology-however-has-also_1493505.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a3/karl-popper-2167_truth_this-false-epistemology-however-has-also_1493505.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a3/karl-popper-2167_truth_this-false-epistemology-however-has-also_1493505.jpg) > ““This false epistemology, however, has also led to disastrous consequences. The theory that truth is manifest—that it is there for everyone to see, if only he wants to see it—this theory is the basis of almost every kind of fanaticism. For only the most depraved wickedness can refuse to see the manifest truth; only those who have reason to fear truth conspire to suppress it.”” [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The belief that truth is obvious and universally accessible fuels fanaticism; those who fear truth hide it. **In simple terms:** Assuming truth is obvious can lead to oppression. Key Takeaway Question hidden motives. Themes truth fanaticism epistemology Mood critical skeptical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political discourse - media analysis - education reform Key Concepts manifest truth fear of truth suppression Questions to Reflect On - What truths do we take for granted? - How can we protect truth from suppression? A Different Perspective Truth may be complex and not readily apparent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [False Epistemology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/false-epistemology-5460939/) [Fanaticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fanaticism/) [Manifest Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manifest-truth-3955649/) [Theory Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory-truth-2758796/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Manifest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-manifest-2895863/) [Truth Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-reason-252608/) ## Related quotes > [Everything we see in nature is manifested truth; only we are not able to recognize it unless truth is manifest within ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-bohme/everything-we-see-in-nature-is-manifested-truth-only-we-are-not-able/) [Jakob Bohme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-bohme/) > [By proving contraries, truth is made manifest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/by-proving-contraries-truth-is-made-manifest/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [The way we live ought to manifest the truth of what we believe. A messy life speaks of a messy and incoherent faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/the-way-we-live-ought-to-manifest-the-truth-of-what-we-believe-a/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [We are not only to renounce evil, but to manifest the truth. We tell people the world is vain; let our lives manifest that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-not-only-to-renounce-evil-but-to-manifest-the-truth-we-tell/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The theory of truth is a series of truisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-austin/the-theory-of-truth-is-a-series-of-truisms/) [J. L. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-austin/) > [The secret of theory is that truth does not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/the-secret-of-theory-is-that-truth-does-not-exist/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/i-have-a-theory-that-the-truth-is-never-told-during-the-nine-to-five/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Our decisions need not be seen as resting on procedures that are merely instrumental in making judgments that are reliably truth-tracking. The procedures might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/our-decisions-need-not-be-seen-as-resting-on-procedures-that-are/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Look at us! Are we not proof that there is no good, no evil, no truth, no reason? Are we not proof that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/look-at-us-are-we-not-proof-that-there-is-no-good-no-evil-no-truth-no/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [The two principles of truth, reason and senses, are not only both not genuine, but are engaged in mutual deception. The senses deceive reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-two-principles-of-truth-reason-and-senses-are-not-only-both-not/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“Salvation of human life requires disclosure of truth through reason, surpassing bigotry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/salvation-of-human-life-requires-disclosure-of-truth-through-reason/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does the truth become error because nobody will see it. ( Young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/an-error-does-not-become-truth-by-reason-of-multiplied-propagation/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [We know the truth, not only be the reason, but also be the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/we-know-the-truth-not-only-be-the-reason-but-also-be-the-heart/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“The relationship between truth and reason: "Truth cannot be reached by reason alone!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-blondel/the-relationship-between-truth-and-reason-truth-cannot-be-reached-by/) [Maurice Blondel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-blondel/) > [All forms of the state have democracy for their truth, and for that reason are false to the extent that they are not democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/all-forms-of-the-state-have-democracy-for-their-truth-and-for-that/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) ## More by Karl Popper > [Science is not a system of certain, or -established, statements; nor is it a system which steadily advances towards a state of finality... And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/science-is-not-a-system-of-certain-or-established-statements-nor-is/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [“As indicated by our example, methodological nominalism is nowadays fairly generally accepted in the natural sciences. The problems of the social sciences, on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/as-indicated-by-our-example-methodological-nominalism-is-nowadays/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [Science is perhaps the only human activity in which errors are systematically criticized and, in time, corrected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/science-is-perhaps-the-only-human-activity-in-which-errors-are/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [A system is empirical or scientific only if it is capable of being tested by experience. These considerations suggest that not the verifiability but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/a-system-is-empirical-or-scientific-only-if-it-is-capable-of-being/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [Bold ideas, unjustified anticipations, and speculative thought, are our only means for interpreting nature: our only organon, our only instrument, for grasping her. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/bold-ideas-unjustified-anticipations-and-speculative-thought-are-our/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [ \[The aim of science is\] to explain what so far has taken to be an explicans, such as a law of nature. The task… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/the-aim-of-science-is-to-explain-what-so-far-has-taken-to-be-an/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [There can be no ultimate statements science: there can be no statements in science which can not be tested, and therefore none which cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/there-can-be-no-ultimate-statements-science-there-can-be-no/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [Evolution is not a fact. Evolution doesn't even qualify as a theory or as a hypothesis. It is a metaphysical research program, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/evolution-is-not-a-fact-evolution-doesn-t-even-qualify-as-a-theory-or/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [I am opposed to looking upon logic as a kind of game. ... One might think that it is a matter of choice or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/i-am-opposed-to-looking-upon-logic-as-a-kind-of-game-one-might-think/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [The history of science, like the history of all human ideas, is a history of irresponsible dreams, of obstinacy, and of error.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/the-history-of-science-like-the-history-of-all-human-ideas-is-a/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [Good tests kill flawed theories; we remain alive to guess again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/good-tests-kill-flawed-theories-we-remain-alive-to-guess-again/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [There is no pure, disinterested, theory-free observation,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/there-is-no-pure-disinterested-theory-free-observation/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [We have the right not to tolerate the intolerant. We should tolerate even them whenever we can do so without running a great risk;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/we-have-the-right-not-to-tolerate-the-intolerant-we-should-tolerate/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [Better our hypotheses die for our errors than ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/better-our-hypotheses-die-for-our-errors-than-ourselves/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [“Every time we proceed to explain some conjectural law or theory by a new conjectural theory of a higher degree of universality, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/every-time-we-proceed-to-explain-some-conjectural-law-or-theory-by-a/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) [Explore all 181 Karl Popper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) ## More Fanaticism quotes > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Fanaticism, to which men are so much inclined, has always served not only to render them more brutalized but more wicked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/fanaticism-to-which-men-are-so-much-inclined-has-always-served-not/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [One would think that a system loaded with such gross and vulgar absurdities as Scripture religion is could never have obtained credit; yet we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/one-would-think-that-a-system-loaded-with-such-gross-and-vulgar/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“Fanatics are those who, when following a doctrine becomes inconvenient, make up rules of their own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathryn-louis/fanatics-are-those-who-when-following-a-doctrine-becomes-inconvenient/) [Cathryn Louis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathryn-louis/) > [Critics of the war plans (including myself) have pointed to the disastrous political results that must be expected: Iraq would break into three parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uri-avnery/critics-of-the-war-plans-including-myself-have-pointed-to-the/) [Uri Avnery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uri-avnery/) > [A noble person stands up as though a theater curtain rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-noble-person-stands-up-as-though-a-theater-curtain-rises/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Very often, fanaticism begins at home. It begins inside the family. It begins with the urge to change our kin, to change our beloved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/very-often-fanaticism-begins-at-home-it-begins-inside-the-family-it/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [Every isolated passion, is, in isolation, insane; sanity may be defined as synthesis of insanities. Every dominant passion generates a dominant fear, the fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/every-isolated-passion-is-in-isolation-insane-sanity-may-be-defined/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [ \[Friedrich\] Nietzsche said something marvellous, he said "Madness is not a consequence of uncertainty but of certainty", and this is fanaticism. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/friedrich-nietzsche-said-something-marvellous-he-said-madness-is-not/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Fanatics can justify practically any atrocity to themselves. The more untenable their position becomes, the harder they hold to it, and the worse the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/fanatics-can-justify-practically-any-atrocity-to-themselves-the-more/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [Fanaticism displays itself in the masses; but the masses were rarely fanaticised; and the crimes ascribed to it were commonly due to the calculations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/fanaticism-displays-itself-in-the-masses-but-the-masses-were-rarely/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [The Bible parable says that while men slept, the enemy sowed tares among the wheat. A boy who rises at 4:30 to deliver papers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/the-bible-parable-says-that-while-men-slept-the-enemy-sowed-tares/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) [Browse all 468 Fanaticism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fanaticism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This false epistemology, however, has also led to disastrous consequences. The theory that truth is manifest—that it is there for everyone to see, if only he wants to see it—this theory is the basis of almost every kind of fanaticism. 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