quotations about opinion
Error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it.
THOMAS JEFFERSON
First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1801
Do not think of knocking out another person's brains because he differs in opinion from you. It would be as rational to knock yourself on the head because you differ from yourself ten years ago.
HORACE MANN
Thoughts
Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.
BERTRAND RUSSELL
"A Liberal Decalogue", New York Times Magazine, December 16, 1951
Change your opinions, keep to your principles; change your leaves, keep intact your roots.
VICTOR HUGO
Intellectual Autobiography: Ideas on Literature, Philosophy and Religion
Public opinion is a capricious sea; whoever attempts to navigate it is liable to be tossed about by storms.
WILLIAM HENRY SEWARD
William H. Seward's Travels Around the World
It is always imprudent to force opinions upon others; if they do not question the arguments they will the authority, and having ventured to examine the one, will feel less delicacy in rejecting the other.
NORMAN MACDONALD
Maxims and Moral Reflections
The variety of opinions among the learned, begets both doubtfulness and fear in the ignorant.
THEOPHRASTUS
attributed, Day's Collacon
Some have wondered, that disputes about opinions should so often end in personalities; but the fact is, that such disputes begin with personalities, for our opinions are a part of ourselves.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON
Lacon
The opinion of the majority is not lightly to be rejected; but neither is it to be carelessly echoed.
GEORGE HENRY LEWES
The Principles of Success in Literature
It is therefore worthwhile, to search out the bounds between opinion and knowledge; and examine by what measures, in things, whereof we have no certain knowledge, we ought to regulate our assent, and moderate our persuasions.
JOHN LOCKE
An Essay Concerning Human Understanding
No errors of opinion can possibly be dangerous in a country where opinion is left free to grapple with them.
WILLIAM GILMORE SIMMS
Egeria: Or Voices of Thought and Counsel, for the Woods and Wayside
Predominant opinions are generally opinions of the generation that is vanishing.
BENJAMIN DISRAELI
attributed, Day's Collacon
Opinions cannot survive if one has no chance to fight for them.
THOMAS MANN
The Magic Mountain
Unity of opinion, abstractedly considered, is neither desirable, nor a good ... for men may be all agreed in error, and in that case unanimity is an evil.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON
Lacon
To venture an opinion is like moving a piece at chess: it may be taken, but it forms the beginning of a game that is won.
JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE
The Maxims and Reflections of Goethe
It is particularly incumbent on those who never change their opinion, to be secure of judging properly at first.
JANE AUSTEN
Pride and Prejudice
There is a medium in opinions, as well as in pleasures--error usually lies in extremes.
NORMAN MACDONALD
Maxims and Moral Reflections
An opinion, right or wrong, can never constitute a moral offense, nor be in itself a moral obligation. It may be mistaken; it may involve an absurdity, or a contradiction. It is a truth; or it is an error: it can never be a crime or a virtue.
FRANCES WRIGHT
A Few Days in Athens
The courage of one's opinions is always a form of calculating cowardice in the eyes of the "other side."
MARCEL PROUST
Swann's Way
Our opinions are not our own.
WILLIAM HAZLITT
Characteristics