The human understanding is no dry light, but receives infusion from the will and affections; which proceed sciences which may read more

The human understanding is no dry light, but receives infusion from the will and affections; which proceed sciences which may be called "sciences as one would." For what a man had rather were true he more readily believes. Therefore he rejects difficult things from impatience of research; sober things, because they narrow hope; the deeper things of nature, from superstition; the light of experience, from arrogance and pride; things not commonly believed, out of deference to the opinion of the vulgar. Numberless in short are the ways, and sometimes imperceptible, in which the affections color and infect the understanding.

I know that most men, including those at ease with problems of the greatest complexity, can seldom accept even the read more

I know that most men, including those at ease with problems of the greatest complexity, can seldom accept even the simplest and most obvious truth if it be such as would oblige them to admit the falsity of conclusions which they have delighted in explaining to colleagues, which they have proudly taught to others, and which they have woven, thread by thread, into the fabric of their lives.

All religions must be tolerated, for every man must get to heaven in his own way.

All religions must be tolerated, for every man must get to heaven in his own way.

As a first approximation, I define "belief" not as the object of believing (a dogma, a program, etc.) but as read more

As a first approximation, I define "belief" not as the object of believing (a dogma, a program, etc.) but as the subject's investment in a proposition, the act of saying it and considering it as true.

Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.

Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.

I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store read more

I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph.

A devotee who can call on God while living a householder's life is a hero indeed. God thinks: 'He is read more

A devotee who can call on God while living a householder's life is a hero indeed. God thinks: 'He is blessed indeed who prays to me in the midst of his worldly duties. He is trying to find me, overcoming a great obstacle -- pushing away, as it were, a huge block of stone weighing a ton. Such a man is a real hero.'.

Creation science is an attempt to give credibility to Hebrew mythology by making people believe that the world's foremost biologists, read more

Creation science is an attempt to give credibility to Hebrew mythology by making people believe that the world's foremost biologists, paleontologists, and geologists are a bunch of incompetent nincompoops.

I don't know of a single foreign product that enters this country untaxed, except the answer to prayer.

I don't know of a single foreign product that enters this country untaxed, except the answer to prayer.