Agnosticism Quote by Thomas Huxley
“It is wrong for a man to say that he is certain of the objective truth of any proposition unless he can produce evidence which logically justifies that certainty. This is what Agnosticism asserts; and, in my opinion, it is all that is essential to Agnosticism. That which Agnostics deny and repudiate, as immoral, is the contrary doctrine, that there are propositions which men ought to believe without logically satisfactory evidence; and that reprobation ought to attach to the profession of disbelief in such inadequately supported propositions.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Essays on Science and Religion, Thomas Huxley, 1869
Agnosticism demands evidence for certainty; belief without proof is irrational and morally wrong.
In simple terms: Only believe what you can prove.
Key Takeaway
Seek evidence before claiming certainty.
Themes
evidence
skepticism
belief
morality
Mood
thoughtful
critical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
ethical
intellectual
When to use this quote
- scientific research
- legal testimony
- medical diagnosis
- policy making
Key Concepts
agnosticism
epistemology
rationalism
Questions to Reflect On
- What beliefs do you hold without evidence?
- How can you test the validity of a claim?
A Different Perspective
Evidence may be unavailable or inconclusive, limiting decisive action.
![“Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this [step by step, from humans to apes to monkeys to lemurs] - leading us insensibly from the crown and summit of the animal creation down to creatures, from which there is but a step, as it seems, to the…” quote by Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0b/thomas-huxley-1183_animal_perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us_3051.jpg)
