Believe Quote by Marshall Goldsmith
“The more we are committed to believing that something is true, the less likely we are to believe that its opposite is true, even in the face of clear evidence that shows we are wrong.”
About This Quote
Source Book: What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, 2007
Strong belief in a truth creates blind spots, making opposite evidence ignored or dismissed.
In simple terms: Firm beliefs block acceptance of contrary evidence.
Key Takeaway
Stay open to opposing evidence.
Themes
cognitive bias
belief perseverance
critical thinking
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
self‑help
philosophical
When to use this quote
- business leadership
- personal growth
- scientific research
- political debate
Key Concepts
confirmation bias
epistemic humility
decision making
Questions to Reflect On
- What beliefs might you be clinging to?
- How can you test opposing viewpoints?
A Different Perspective
Bias can be entrenched despite clear data.
![“[W]e have an automatic tendency to pay attention to or seek out information that is in agreement with (confirms) our preconceptions, and to ignore, distort or avoid information that contradicts (disconfirms) our preconceptions, a tendency that is called the confirmation bias. The confirmation bias…” quote by Wadsworth Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0c2/wadsworth-publishing-194058_critical-thinking_w-e-have-an-automatic-tendency-to-pay-at_518612.jpg)
