Discussion Quote by Norman Angell
“It is not the facts which guide the conduct of men, but their opinions about facts; which may be entirely wrong. We can only make them right by discussion.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Great Illusion, 1909
People’s beliefs about facts shape actions more than facts themselves; discussion can correct misconceptions.
In simple terms: Opinions drive actions, not facts.
Key Takeaway
Use dialogue to align perceptions with reality.
Themes
perception
truth
discussion
politics
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- media analysis
- education curricula
- public forums
Key Concepts
Epistemology
social psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can dialogue shift entrenched beliefs?
- What role does media play in shaping opinions?
A Different Perspective
Changing opinions is often slow and resistant.
![“[Kathleen Blackshear] just said, "Have you thought of looking at this?" and so on and so on and so on. And it was a discussion group where everyone had a say, and it was a tremendous learning experience.” quote by Warren MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/49b/warren-mackenzie-4654_discussion_kathleen-blackshear-just-said-have-you-t_18002.jpg)
![“[James] Madison pointed out in the discussion of the constitutional debates - the constitutional convention - that democracy would be a danger. He used England of course as the model and said suppose that in England everyone had the free right to vote; the poor, the propertyless - who are the…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/069/noam-chomsky-42_constitutional-conve_james-madison-pointed-out-in-the-discuss_22456.jpg)
