--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is more frightening than any…" description: "\"What is more frightening than any particular policy or ideology is the widespread habit of disregarding facts.\" — Thomas Sowell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dac/thomas-sowell-247_frightening_what-is-more-frightening-than-any-partic_2972126.jpg" --- # What is more frightening than any particular policy or… ![“What is more frightening than any particular policy or ideology is the widespread habit of disregarding facts.” quote by Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dac/thomas-sowell-247_frightening_what-is-more-frightening-than-any-partic_2972126.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dac/thomas-sowell-247_frightening_what-is-more-frightening-than-any-partic_2972126.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dac/thomas-sowell-247_frightening_what-is-more-frightening-than-any-partic_2972126.jpg) > “What is more frightening than any particular policy or ideology is the widespread habit of disregarding facts.” [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Disregarding facts is more dangerous than any specific policy or ideology because it undermines rational decision‑making. **In simple terms:** Ignoring facts is frightening. Key Takeaway Prioritize evidence‑based thinking. Themes facts critical thinking policy Mood skeptical concerned Type analytical educational When to use this quote - public discourse - education - media literacy Key Concepts cognitive bias information neglect Questions to Reflect On - Why do we ignore facts? - How can fact‑checking be improved? A Different Perspective People may cling to beliefs despite evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disregarding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disregarding-327478/) [Disregarding Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disregarding-facts-4581271/) [Frightening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frightening/) [Frightening Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frightening-particular-4581272/) [Habit Disregarding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit-disregarding-4581273/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Ideology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideology/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [I have a history of disregarding orders. - Mitch Rapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-flynn/i-have-a-history-of-disregarding-orders-mitch-rapp/) [Vince Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-flynn/) > [I'm disregarding all the rules I've seen as people approach writing music. I'm trying to break them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verite/i-m-disregarding-all-the-rules-i-ve-seen-as-people-approach-writing/) [Verite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/verite/) > [“waiting was a sin against both the time that was still to come, and against the moments one was currently disregarding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/waiting-was-a-sin-against-both-the-time-that-was-still-to-come-and-2/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Accustom yourself not to be disregarding of what someone else has to say: as far as possible enter into the mind of the speaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/accustom-yourself-not-to-be-disregarding-of-what-someone-else-has-to/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“Love, as most know, follows its own timeline. Disregarding our intentions or well rehearsed plans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslye-walton/love-as-most-know-follows-its-own-timeline-disregarding-our/) [Leslye Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslye-walton/) > [Life has a way of disregarding even your best intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/life-has-a-way-of-disregarding-even-your-best-intentions/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [As we grow older, we live more coarsely, we relax a little in our disciplines, and, to some extent, cease to obey our finest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-we-grow-older-we-live-more-coarsely-we-relax-a-little-in-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/freedom-is-the-only-worthy-goal-in-life-it-is-won-by-disregarding/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [By disregarding intuition in favor of science, or science in favor of instincts, we limit ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/by-disregarding-intuition-in-favor-of-science-or-science-in-favor-of/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [To think Being itself explicitly requires disregarding Being to the extent that it is only grounded and interpreted in terms of beings and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-heidegger/to-think-being-itself-explicitly-requires-disregarding-being-to-the/) [Martin Heidegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-heidegger/) > [Freedom and happiness are won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/freedom-and-happiness-are-won-by-disregarding-things-that-lie-beyond/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [One should aim, seriously, at disregarding ups and downs; a compliment here, silence there ... the central fact remains stable, which is the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/one-should-aim-seriously-at-disregarding-ups-and-downs-a-compliment/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [I realize that there's a whole generation of kids out there like me who are totally disregarding the moral values taught to us by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-morrison/i-realize-that-there-s-a-whole-generation-of-kids-out-there-like-me/) [Tommy Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-morrison/) > [It hurts your feelings when you feel like people are disregarding you, or not giving you the credit that you're due.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edi-patterson/it-hurts-your-feelings-when-you-feel-like-people-are-disregarding-you/) [Edi Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edi-patterson/) > [Sarah Palin is an empty vessel ready to be filled by ideology that she doesn't even understand, and that is really scary. Nothing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/sarah-palin-is-an-empty-vessel-ready-to-be-filled-by-ideology-that/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) ## More by Thomas Sowell > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [There is no bigger waste of time than doing 90% of what is necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/there-is-no-bigger-waste-of-time-than-doing-90-of-what-is-necessary/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [If you have always believed that everyone should play by the same rules and be judged by the same standards, that would have gotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/if-you-have-always-believed-that-everyone-should-play-by-the-same/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“In 1962, Democratic President John F. Kennedy, like both Democratic and Republican Presidents and Secretaries of the Treasury in earlier years, pointed out that “it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/in-1962-democratic-president-john-f-kennedy-like-both-democratic-and/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Ideological bigotry has become the norm on even our most prestigious campuses, where students can go for years without reading or hearing anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/ideological-bigotry-has-become-the-norm-on-even-our-most-prestigious/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Bailing out people who made ill-advised mortgages makes no more sense that bailing out people who lost their life savings in Las Vegas casinos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/bailing-out-people-who-made-ill-advised-mortgages-makes-no-more-sense/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“One third of all Scots in the mid-nineteenth century moved from one county to another”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/one-third-of-all-scots-in-the-mid-nineteenth-century-moved-from-one/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [The difference is that we have the hardest and most painful evidence that there was a Holocaust. But, for the global warming scenario that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-difference-is-that-we-have-the-hardest-and-most-painful-evidence/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“Just as price fluctuations allocate scarce resources which have alternative uses, price controls which limit those fluctuations reduce the incentives for individuals to limit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/just-as-price-fluctuations-allocate-scarce-resources-which-have/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [The greatest danger to the liberal vision are facts about the consequences of liberalism itself and the laws, policies, and ways of life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-greatest-danger-to-the-liberal-vision-are-facts-about-the/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Having spent years ruining the housing markets with their interference, leading to a housing meltdown that has taken the whole economy down with it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/having-spent-years-ruining-the-housing-markets-with-their/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Do all children have some inherent right to live in America if they have done nothing wrong? If not, then why should the children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/do-all-children-have-some-inherent-right-to-live-in-america-if-they/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [What 'eminent domain' laws mean in practice is that politicians have a right to seize your property and turn it over to someone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/what-eminent-domain-laws-mean-in-practice-is-that-politicians-have-a/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“those parts of the British Isles without the advantage of coal deposits or ports, industrialization was as handicapped as in other countries.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/those-parts-of-the-british-isles-without-the-advantage-of-coal/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [The whole idea of equal justice under law is completely incompatible with the idea of judges deciding cases according to "empathy".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-whole-idea-of-equal-justice-under-law-is-completely-incompatible/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) [Explore all 823 Thomas Sowell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) ## More Frightening quotes > [I wish that I had known back then that a mastery of process would lead to a product. 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But like all important works of nonfiction, it goes further… This book is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-ly-hayslip/a-great-read-an-exciting-frightening-account-of-organized-crime-today/) [Le Ly Hayslip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-ly-hayslip/) > [“Because, in the dark, I’m equally as frightening as any”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/because-in-the-dark-i-m-equally-as-frightening-as-any/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [A self is a frightening thing to waste, it's the lens through which one's whole life is viewed, and few people are willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-ackerman/a-self-is-a-frightening-thing-to-waste-it-s-the-lens-through-which/) [Diane Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-ackerman/) > [It was Ronald Reagan who used to say that the 10 most frightening words in the English language are, "I'm from the federal government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/it-was-ronald-reagan-who-used-to-say-that-the-10-most-frightening/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [“Missing: A teenaged girl with lanky, blonde hair and a sunburst tattoo on her cheek. The holographic posters, brighter than day itself, lit up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-l-bernstein/missing-a-teenaged-girl-with-lanky-blonde-hair-and-a-sunburst-tattoo/) [Amy L. Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-l-bernstein/) > [What if it turns out there really are witches and vampires and werewolves living right here alongside us? After all, what better disguise could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/what-if-it-turns-out-there-really-are-witches-and-vampires-and/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [Fiction that isn't an author's personal adventure into the frightening or the unknown isn't worth writing for anything but money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/fiction-that-isn-t-an-author-s-personal-adventure-into-the/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [Death is frightening, and so is Eternal Life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/death-is-frightening-and-so-is-eternal-life/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [I understand that change is frightening for people, especially if there's nothing to go to. It's best to stay where you are. I understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-diana/i-understand-that-change-is-frightening-for-people-especially-if/) [Princess Diana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-diana/) > [It's a question of dropping the armor and getting up and doing the work you want to do. And film at first is frightening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/it-s-a-question-of-dropping-the-armor-and-getting-up-and-doing-the/) [Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) > [For any couple, once you delve into the idea of non-monogamy, you're entering pretty frightening territory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-lister-jones/for-any-couple-once-you-delve-into-the-idea-of-non-monogamy-you-re/) [Zoe Lister-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-lister-jones/) > [“Zam watched as the creature began to fade, until it disappeared altogether and all that remained was his own reflection in the mirror. 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