Asking questions Quote by Richard Dawkins
““The fact that something is written down is persuasive to people not used to asking questions like: ‘Who wrote it, and when?’ ‘How did they know what to write?’ ‘Did they, in their time, really mean what we, in our time, understand them to be saying?’ ‘Were they unbiased observers, or did they have an agenda that coloured their writing?””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins, 2006
Written records are persuasive to those who never question authorship, context, or bias, leading to uncritical acceptance.
In simple terms: People trust written words without asking who wrote them or why.
Key Takeaway
Question sources and motives before accepting written claims.
Themes
critical thinking
skepticism
history
authority
bias
Mood
cautious
inquisitive
skeptical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic research
- media consumption
- policy making
- education
- public discourse
Key Concepts
Epistemology
source criticism
historical context
Questions to Reflect On
- Who authored this text and what was their purpose?
- How does context change meaning?
A Different Perspective
Not all written sources are reliable; some may be deliberately misleading.
