--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One should believe only what can be…" description: "\"One should believe only what can be chosen to be true or just. Irrational (or unjustified) beliefs should be avoided because they can have disastrous p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e09/mario-bunge-17317_avoided_one-should-believe-only-what-can-be-chos_3111480.jpg" --- # One should believe only what can be chosen to be true or… ![“One should believe only what can be chosen to be true or just. Irrational (or unjustified) beliefs should be avoided because they can have disastrous practical consequences.” quote by Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e09/mario-bunge-17317_avoided_one-should-believe-only-what-can-be-chos_3111480.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e09/mario-bunge-17317_avoided_one-should-believe-only-what-can-be-chos_3111480.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e09/mario-bunge-17317_avoided_one-should-believe-only-what-can-be-chos_3111480.jpg) > “One should believe only what can be chosen to be true or just. Irrational (or unjustified) beliefs should be avoided because they can have disastrous practical consequences.” [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Only beliefs that are rational and justified should be held; irrational beliefs risk harmful outcomes. **In simple terms:** Believe only what is rational and justified. Key Takeaway Avoid unjustified beliefs. Themes rationality epistemology consequences Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - decision making - policy development - personal relationships Key Concepts justification practical risk critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How do you test the justification of a belief? - What consequences have arisen from an unjustified belief? A Different Perspective Rational belief may be hard to maintain in emotional contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs/) [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Irrational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irrational/) ## Related quotes > [Although many things can be said in criticism of religious faith, there is no discounting its power. 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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 British suffer from a most unfortunate superiority complex - unjustified even under Victoria and most certainly hopelessly out-of-date today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/the-british-suffer-from-a-most-unfortunate-superiority-complex/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [The only thing we have to fear is fear itself-and possibly teh bogey man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-paulsen/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself-and-possibly-teh-bogey/) [Pat Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-paulsen/) ## More by Mario Bunge > [Science is morally neutral, but social science shows us that some moral codes are better than others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/science-is-morally-neutral-but-social-science-shows-us-that-some/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [Whereas science elicits changes in order to know, technology knows in order to elicit changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/whereas-science-elicits-changes-in-order-to-know-technology-knows-in/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [We deem valuable whatever is likely to meet our needs or wishes (individual values) and whatever is likely to help protect or attain social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/we-deem-valuable-whatever-is-likely-to-meet-our-needs-or-wishes/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [A distinguished cognitive neuroscientist confessed to me that, because of his religious upbringing, he could not get rid of psychoneural dualism. The idea that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/a-distinguished-cognitive-neuroscientist-confessed-to-me-that-because/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [In the scientific community you find competent teachers and original researchers, just as in the musical community you find many good performers but very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/in-the-scientific-community-you-find-competent-teachers-and-original/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [Of course much remains to know, but we know how to learn: through scientific research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/of-course-much-remains-to-know-but-we-know-how-to-learn-through/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [Most contemporary philosophers are conservative and eager to keep their jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/most-contemporary-philosophers-are-conservative-and-eager-to-keep/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [To me, work is not a burden but my main hobby. 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Just think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/in-any-event-i-don-t-believe-in-instant-philosophy-because/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [Only the stupid and the wicked can fear rational criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/only-the-stupid-and-the-wicked-can-fear-rational-criticism/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [The fact is that all the important political philosophers and scientists from the great Aristotle on, with the exception of those of the French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/the-fact-is-that-all-the-important-political-philosophers-and/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) [Explore all 35 Mario Bunge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) ## More Avoided quotes > [I avoided nudity unless a film couldn't be told without those scenes. 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