--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To Believe without evidence and…" description: "\"To Believe without evidence and demonstration is an act of ignorance and folly\" — Socrates" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/socrates-405_believe_to-believe-without-evidence-and-demonstr_2475219.jpg" --- # To Believe without evidence and demonstration is an act of… ![“To Believe without evidence and demonstration is an act of ignorance and folly” quote by Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/socrates-405_believe_to-believe-without-evidence-and-demonstr_2475219.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/socrates-405_believe_to-believe-without-evidence-and-demonstr_2475219.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/socrates-405_believe_to-believe-without-evidence-and-demonstr_2475219.jpg) > “To Believe without evidence and demonstration is an act of ignorance and folly” [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Believing without evidence is ignorance; rational proof is essential for true belief. **In simple terms:** Evidence is needed for belief. Key Takeaway Demand proof before accepting claims. Themes skepticism knowledge logic Mood inquisitive critical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - scientific research - legal judgments - everyday decisions Key Concepts epistemology critical thinking philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance faith and evidence? - When is intuition acceptable? A Different Perspective Blind faith can be comforting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Demonstration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demonstration/) [Folly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folly/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) ## Related quotes > [A tree which has lost its head will never recover it again, and will survive only as a monument of the ignorance and folly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-curtis/a-tree-which-has-lost-its-head-will-never-recover-it-again-and-will/) [George William Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-curtis/) > [Every time a person allows an act of ignorance to happen (one word, thought or action), they delay our progress towards building a beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/every-time-a-person-allows-an-act-of-ignorance-to-happen-one-word/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“What makes so many Americans proud of their ignorance? They act as though their ignorance somehow made them charming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr/what-makes-so-many-americans-proud-of-their-ignorance-they-act-as/) [Kurt Vonnegut Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr/) > [“We must all work in harmony with each other to stand up for what is right, to speak up for what is fair, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/we-must-all-work-in-harmony-with-each-other-to-stand-up-for-what-is/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“Ignorance is the greatest poverty. Ignorance is death in life. There is no evil so great as ignorance. Folly is an incurable disease. A”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wortabet/ignorance-is-the-greatest-poverty-ignorance-is-death-in-life-there-is/) [John Wortabet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wortabet/) > [“There are forces, Lucius, infinitely more powerful than reason and science." " What are they?" asked Cotta. "Ignorance and folly," replied Aristaeus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/there-are-forces-lucius-infinitely-more-powerful-than-reason-and/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [We are still in Eden; the wall that shuts us out is our own ignorance and folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-cole/we-are-still-in-eden-the-wall-that-shuts-us-out-is-our-own-ignorance/) [Thomas Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-cole/) > [I believe in evidence-based decision making. I want to know what the facts are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-believe-in-evidence-based-decision-making-i-want-to-know-what-the/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Blessed are those who believe when there is no evidence of an answer to prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wilkerson/blessed-are-those-who-believe-when-there-is-no-evidence-of-an-answer/) [David Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wilkerson/) > [Faith is the lack of evidence, and it shouldn't be that difficult to convince people that the right reason to believe something is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/faith-is-the-lack-of-evidence-and-it-shouldn-t-be-that-difficult-to/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [As a gardener, I'm among those who believe that much of the evidence of God's existence has been planted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/as-a-gardener-i-m-among-those-who-believe-that-much-of-the-evidence/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [...the idea of a spiritual part of our nature that survives death, the notion of an afterlife, ought to be easy for religions and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-idea-of-a-spiritual-part-of-our-nature-that-survives-death-the/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [I believe that the evidence will show that there was not so much a conspiracy, but a convergence of interests with three different groups…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manning-marable/i-believe-that-the-evidence-will-show-that-there-was-not-so-much-a/) [Manning Marable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manning-marable/) > [I myself believe that the evidence for God lies primarily in inner personal experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/i-myself-believe-that-the-evidence-for-god-lies-primarily-in-inner/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [I believe that evidence shows that there is a real spirit, a real Beach, but it is beneath no pavement whatsoever, for all pavements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/i-believe-that-evidence-shows-that-there-is-a-real-spirit-a-real/) [Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/) ## More by Socrates > [By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/by-all-means-marry-if-you-get-a-good-wife-you-ll-be-happy-if-you-get/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Falling down is not a failure. Failure comes when you stay where you have fallen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/falling-down-is-not-a-failure-failure-comes-when-you-stay-where-you/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Do not go through life like leaf blown from here to there believing whatever you are told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/do-not-go-through-life-like-leaf-blown-from-here-to-there-believing/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [If the whole world depends on today's youth, I can't see the world lasting another 100 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/if-the-whole-world-depends-on-today-s-youth-i-can-t-see-the-world/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“I only know, I know nothing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/i-only-know-i-know-nothing/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/i-cannot-teach-anybody-anything-i-can-only-make-them-think/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [If measure and symmetry are absent from any composition in any degree, ruin awaits both the ingredients and the composition... Measure and symmetry are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/if-measure-and-symmetry-are-absent-from-any-composition-in-any-degree/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Marry a good woman, and be happy the rest of your life. Or, marry a bad, and become a good philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/marry-a-good-woman-and-be-happy-the-rest-of-your-life-or-marry-a-bad/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“For the fear of death is indeed the pretense of wisdom, and not real wisdom, being a pretense of knowing the unknown; and no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/for-the-fear-of-death-is-indeed-the-pretense-of-wisdom-and-not-real/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [There is no difference between knowledge and temperance; for he who knows what is good and embraces it, who knows what is bad and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/there-is-no-difference-between-knowledge-and-temperance-for-he-who/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Besides, it is a shame to let yourself grow old through neglect before seeing how you can develop the maximum beauty and strength of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/besides-it-is-a-shame-to-let-yourself-grow-old-through-neglect-before/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [The greatest blessing granted to mankind come by way of madness, which is a divine gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/the-greatest-blessing-granted-to-mankind-come-by-way-of-madness-which/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [I desire only to know the truth, and to live as well as I can...And, to the utmost of my power, I exhort all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/i-desire-only-to-know-the-truth-and-to-live-as-well-as-i-can-and-to/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [So you would rather suffer an injustice than do an injustice?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/so-you-would-rather-suffer-an-injustice-than-do-an-injustice/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [The end of life is to be like unto God; and the soul following God, will be like unto Him; He being the beginning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/the-end-of-life-is-to-be-like-unto-god-and-the-soul-following-god/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) [Explore all 579 Socrates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To Believe without evidence and demonstration is an act of ignorance and folly", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Socrates" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/to-believe-without-evidence-and-demonstration-is-an-act-of-ignorance/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/to-believe-without-evidence-and-demonstration-is-an-act-of-ignorance/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/socrates-405_believe_to-believe-without-evidence-and-demonstr_2475219.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/socrates-405_believe_to-believe-without-evidence-and-demonstr_2475219.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/socrates-405_believe_to-believe-without-evidence-and-demonstr_2475219.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To Believe without evidence and demonstration is an act of ignorance and folly” — Socrates", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Socrates", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To Believe without evidence and demonstration...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/to-believe-without-evidence-and-demonstration-is-an-act-of-ignorance/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/to-believe-without-evidence-and-demonstration-is-an-act-of-ignorance/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```