Assuming Quote by William Pepperell Montague
“To regard the successful experiences which ensue from a belief as a criterion of its truth is one thing--and a thing that is sometimes bad and sometimes good--but to assume that truth itself consists in the process by which it is verified is a different thing and always bad.”
About This Quote
Treating successful outcomes as proof of belief is flawed; truth isn’t defined by verification methods.
In simple terms: Success doesn’t prove belief is true.
Key Takeaway
Question verification methods.
Themes
philosophy
epistemology
truth
belief
logic
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- scientific research
- personal decision making
Key Concepts
verification
truth criteria
belief systems
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you distinguish true belief from lucky outcomes?
- Can verification ever capture absolute truth?
A Different Perspective
Verification can be biased or incomplete.
![“I hope that every [person] at one point in their life has the opportunity to have something that is at the heart of their being, something so central to their being that if they lose it they won't feel they're human anymore, to be proved wrong because that's the liberation that science provides…” quote by Lawrence M. Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/af3/lawrence-m-krauss-2566_answers_i-hope-that-every-person-at-one-point-in_1258777.jpg)
