--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Scientific criticism has no nobler task…" description: "\"Scientific criticism has no nobler task than to shatter false beliefs.\" — Ludwig von Mises" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/ludwig-von-mises-364_atheism_scientific-criticism-has-no-nobler-task_337053.png" --- # Scientific criticism has no nobler task than to shatter… ![“Scientific criticism has no nobler task than to shatter false beliefs.” quote by Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/ludwig-von-mises-364_atheism_scientific-criticism-has-no-nobler-task_337053.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/ludwig-von-mises-364_atheism_scientific-criticism-has-no-nobler-task_337053.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/ludwig-von-mises-364_atheism_scientific-criticism-has-no-nobler-task_337053.png) > “Scientific criticism has no nobler task than to shatter false beliefs.” [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critical inquiry should aim to dismantle misconceptions, because truth emerges from rigorous questioning. **In simple terms:** Science should break false ideas. Key Takeaway Question assumptions to find truth. Themes philosophy science critical thinking intellectual honesty progress Mood analytical inquisitive Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - academic research - policy analysis - media literacy - education reform Key Concepts epistemology logic methodology Questions to Reflect On - What makes a critique constructive? - How do we guard against bias in criticism? A Different Perspective The statement may ignore that some critiques can be unconstructive or biased. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [“Every opinion based on scientific criticism I welcome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/every-opinion-based-on-scientific-criticism-i-welcome/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [“We must not make exaggerated demand on critics, and particularly we must not expect that criticism can function as an exact science. Art is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-truffaut/we-must-not-make-exaggerated-demand-on-critics-and-particularly-we/) [François Truffaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-truffaut/) > [“A lie believed acts as truth until it is neutralized.” The false beliefs you hold about your life become the personal laws of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-rydall/a-lie-believed-acts-as-truth-until-it-is-neutralized-the-false/) [Derek Rydall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-rydall/) > [Photographs attract false beliefs the way flypaper attracts flies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/photographs-attract-false-beliefs-the-way-flypaper-attracts-flies/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [There is no actual stress or anxiety in the world, your thoughts create these false beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/there-is-no-actual-stress-or-anxiety-in-the-world-your-thoughts/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [It's not mere extremism that makes folks at the fringes so troubling; it's extremism wedded to false beliefs. Humans have long been dupes, easily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-kluger/it-s-not-mere-extremism-that-makes-folks-at-the-fringes-so-troubling/) [Jeffrey Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-kluger/) > [There is only one cause of unhappiness: the false beliefs you have in your head, beliefs so widespread, so commonly held, that it never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/there-is-only-one-cause-of-unhappiness-the-false-beliefs-you-have-in-2/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [“There is only one cause of unhappiness: the false beliefs you have in your head, beliefs so widespread, so commonly held, that it never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-a-garfinkle/there-is-only-one-cause-of-unhappiness-the-false-beliefs-you-have-in/) Joel A. Garfinkle > [“False beliefs that are indoctrinated into the population for a specific reason and outcomes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/false-beliefs-that-are-indoctrinated-into-the-population-for-a/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [Never underestimate the difficulty of changing false beliefs by facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rosovsky/never-underestimate-the-difficulty-of-changing-false-beliefs-by-facts/) [Henry Rosovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rosovsky/) > [“Fake or false beliefs abound, supported by many.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/fake-or-false-beliefs-abound-supported-by-many/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“Almost every book in the NT has something to say about false beliefs and those who advocate them. We are warned, e.g., about false…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/almost-every-book-in-the-nt-has-something-to-say-about-false-beliefs/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Instead, the lesson is that false beliefs, once they’ve become culturally entrenched—once they’ve become tribal badges of honor—are very difficult to change, and changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-d-greene/instead-the-lesson-is-that-false-beliefs-once-they-ve-become/) Joshua D. Greene > [False beliefs can be every bit as consoling as true ones, right up until the moment of disillusionment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/false-beliefs-can-be-every-bit-as-consoling-as-true-ones-right-up/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Our thoughts are either focused on what's eternal, life-changing, and true, or lost in the details of our temporary, selfish, false beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/our-thoughts-are-either-focused-on-what-s-eternal-life-changing-and/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) ## More by Ludwig von Mises > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Changes in human conditions are brought about by the pioneering of the cleverest and most energetic men. They take the lead and the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/changes-in-human-conditions-are-brought-about-by-the-pioneering-of/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [During the 2300 years since Plato, very little opposition has been registered to his ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/during-the-2300-years-since-plato-very-little-opposition-has-been/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [“How little one is justified in speaking in this connection of "optimism" and "pessimism" and how much the characterization of liberalism as "optimistic" aims…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/how-little-one-is-justified-in-speaking-in-this-connection-of/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Every step by which an individual substitutes concerted action for isolated action results in an immediate and recognizable improvement in his conditions. The advantages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/every-step-by-which-an-individual-substitutes-concerted-action-for/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [The capitalistic social order, therefore, is an economic democracy in the strictest sense of the word. In the last analysis, all decisions are dependent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-capitalistic-social-order-therefore-is-an-economic-democracy-in/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Without calculation, economic activity is impossible. Since under Socialism economic calculation is impossible, under Socialism there can be no economic activity in our sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/without-calculation-economic-activity-is-impossible-since-under/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [There is no kind of freedom and liberty other than the kind which the market economy brings about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/there-is-no-kind-of-freedom-and-liberty-other-than-the-kind-which-the/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Peace and not war is the father of all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/peace-and-not-war-is-the-father-of-all-things/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [What counts alone is the innovator, the dissenter, the harbinger of things unheard of, the man who rejects the traditional standards and aims at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/what-counts-alone-is-the-innovator-the-dissenter-the-harbinger-of/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [In reality no food is valued solely for its nutritive power and no garment or house solely for the protection it affords against cold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/in-reality-no-food-is-valued-solely-for-its-nutritive-power-and-no/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [All this talk: the state should do this or that, ultimately means: the police should force consumers to behave otherwise than they would behave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/all-this-talk-the-state-should-do-this-or-that-ultimately-means-the/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [The most successful businessmen were often uneducated when measured by the scholastic standards of the teaching profession. But they were equal to their social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-most-successful-businessmen-were-often-uneducated-when-measured/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Two hundred years ago, before the advent of capitalism, a man's social status was fixed from the beginning to the end of his life;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/two-hundred-years-ago-before-the-advent-of-capitalism-a-man-s-social/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Facts per se can neither prove nor refute anything. Everything is decided by the interpretation and explanation of the facts, by the ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/facts-per-se-can-neither-prove-nor-refute-anything-everything-is/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) [Explore all 637 Ludwig von Mises quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) ## More Atheism quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [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/) > [No philosophy, no religion, has ever brought so glad a message to the world as this good news of Atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/no-philosophy-no-religion-has-ever-brought-so-glad-a-message-to-the/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? Do you think it was godlike? What would you think of a physician, if a woman came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-h-gardener/do-you-think-that-was-kind-do-you-think-it-was-godlike-what-would-you/) [Helen H. Gardener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-h-gardener/) > [Science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. No one ever demonstrated, so far as I am aware,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/science-can-destroy-religion-by-ignoring-it-as-well-as-by-disproving/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) [Browse all 4,769 Atheism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Scientific criticism has no nobler task than to shatter false beliefs.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ludwig von Mises" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/scientific-criticism-has-no-nobler-task-than-to-shatter-false-beliefs/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Atheism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/scientific-criticism-has-no-nobler-task-than-to-shatter-false-beliefs/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/ludwig-von-mises-364_atheism_scientific-criticism-has-no-nobler-task_337053.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/ludwig-von-mises-364_atheism_scientific-criticism-has-no-nobler-task_337053.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/ludwig-von-mises-364_atheism_scientific-criticism-has-no-nobler-task_337053.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Scientific criticism has no nobler task than to shatter false beliefs.” — Ludwig von Mises", "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": "Ludwig von Mises", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Scientific criticism has no nobler task...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/scientific-criticism-has-no-nobler-task-than-to-shatter-false-beliefs/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/scientific-criticism-has-no-nobler-task-than-to-shatter-false-beliefs/#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 } } ] } ```