Psychology Quote by Van Harden
““Many think truth can be whatever they want it to be, and once they have made up their minds as to that truth, there’s no turning back, because that would be an admission that they had been … ugh … wrong!””
About This Quote
Source Speech: 2018 conference on epistemology and belief formation
People often cling to self‑crafted truths, resisting correction because admitting error feels like personal failure
In simple terms: People protect their beliefs, avoiding correction to preserve self‑image
Key Takeaway
Encourage humility and openness to revising beliefs
Themes
psychology
truth
cognition
Mood
introspective
challenging
Type
philosophical
advice
When to use this quote
- debates
- peer review
- personal reflection
- education curricula
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
self‑justification
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence would change your mind on a core belief?
- How do you handle being proven wrong?
A Different Perspective
Rigid beliefs can block learning and growth
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