--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are two ways of forming an opinion…" description: "\"There are two ways of forming an opinion. One is the scientific method; the other, the scholastic. To the scientific mind, experimental proof is all-im..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/robert-a-heinlein-209_academic_there-are-two-ways-of-forming-an-opinion_1021871.jpg" --- # There are two ways of forming an opinion. One is the… ![“There are two ways of forming an opinion. One is the scientific method; the other, the scholastic. To the scientific mind, experimental proof is all-important, and theory is merely a convenience in description, to be junked when it no longer fits. To the academic mind, authority is everything, and…” quote by Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/robert-a-heinlein-209_academic_there-are-two-ways-of-forming-an-opinion_1021871.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/robert-a-heinlein-209_academic_there-are-two-ways-of-forming-an-opinion_1021871.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/robert-a-heinlein-209_academic_there-are-two-ways-of-forming-an-opinion_1021871.jpg) > “There are two ways of forming an opinion. One is the scientific method; the other, the scholastic. To the scientific mind, experimental proof is all-important, and theory is merely a convenience in description, to be junked when it no longer fits. To the academic mind, authority is everything, and facts are junked when they do not fit theory.” [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Scientific method values evidence and discards theory when disproven; scholastic approach clings to authority and reshapes facts to fit theory. **In simple terms:** Science relies on proof; academia may prioritize doctrine. Key Takeaway Question evidence over authority. Themes science method authority theory evidence Mood analytical skeptical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - research - academic debate - policy making - education - media analysis Key Concepts epistemology critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance evidence with existing frameworks? - When should authority be questioned? A Different Perspective Scientific rigor can be limited by bias and resource constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Academic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/academic/) [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Scholastics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholastics/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientific method](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientific-method/) ## Related quotes > [“Don’t make snap decisions, good or bad, about someone. Before forming an opinion, figure out what makes a person tick. 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