Believe Quote by William Ian Beardmore Beveridge
“No one believes an hypothesis except its originator but everyone believes an experiment except the experimenter. Most people are ready to believe something based on experiment but the experimenter knows the many little things that could have gone wrong in the experiment. For this reason the discoverer of a new fact seldom feels quite so confident of it as others do. On the other hand other people are usually critical of an hypothesis, whereas the originator identifies himself with it and is liable to become devoted to it.”
About This Quote
Scientists tend to trust their own experiments more than their hypotheses, while others trust the experimental results more than the experimenter.
In simple terms: People trust experiments more than the experimenter, and hypotheses more than the originator.
Key Takeaway
Recognize bias in both creators and observers.
Themes
bias
confidence
scientific method
Mood
skeptical
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- research labs
- peer review
- public policy
- media reporting
Key Concepts
epistemology
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does personal involvement affect confidence in findings?
- What safeguards can reduce bias?
A Different Perspective
Originators may overestimate reliability; outsiders may overlook methodological flaws.
