Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions.
In every country where man is free to think and to speak difference of opinion will arise from difference of perception and the imperfection of reason; but these differences when permitted as in this happy country to purify themselves by free discussion are but as passing clouds overspreading our land transiently and leaving our horizon more bright and serene.
FLOP v. Suddenly to change ones opinions and go over to another party. The most notable flop on record was that of Saul of Tarsus who has been severely criticised as a turn-coat by some of our partisan journals.
The public buys its opinions as it buys its meat or takes its milk on the principle that it is cheaper to do this than to keep a cow. So it is but the milk is more likely to be watered.
As for the differences of opinion upon speculative questions if we wait till they are reconciled the action of human affairs must be suspended forever. But neither are we to look for perfection in any one man nor for agreement among many.
I have got you together to hear what I have written down. I do not wish your advice about the main matter for that I have determined for myself. Attributed to President Abraham Lincoln. Salmon P. Chase diary entry for September 22 1862 Diary and Correspondence of Salmon P Chase p. 88 (1903 reprinted 1971). According to the Chase account Lincoln spoke these words at a cabinet meeting he had called to inform the members of his decision to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. This quotation is also used in Carl Sandburg Abraham Lincoln: The War Years p. 584 (1939). Although these words are not used the same thought is conveyed in the diary of another member of Lincolns cabinet Gideon Welles. See his diary entry for the same date in Diary of Gideon Welles vol. 1 pp. 142-43 (1911).
Ready made opinions can be distributed day by day through the press radio and so on again and again till they reach the nerve cell and implant a fixed pattern in the brain. Consequently guided public opinion is the result according to Pavlovian theoreticians of good propaganda technique and the polls [are] a verification of the temporary successful action of the Pavlovian machinations on the mind.
The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacythe strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of other men. A weird life it is to be living always in somebody else?s imagination as if that were the only place in which one could become real.
Where there is much desire to learn there of necessity will be much arguing much writing many opinions; for opinion in good men is but knowledge in the making.
One should respect public opinion insofar as is necessary to avoid starvation and keep out of prison but anything that goes beyond this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny.
When an opinionated person starts to challenge something his mind shuts out all that could clear up the matter. The argument irritates him however just it might be and it seems that he is afraid of discovering the truth.
If you want to know your true opinion of someone watch the effect produced in you by the first sight of a letter from him. It is difficult to keep quiet if you have nothing to do.
GOOD is good and bad is bad and nowhere is the difference between good and bad so wide and so fateful as in human character. For character makes destiny in the individual and in the race.
Everywhere I go Im asked if I think the university stifles writers. My opinion is that they dont stifle enough of them.’08-02-2010
The fewer the facts the stronger the opinion.
Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions.
In every country where man is free to think and to speak difference of opinion will arise from difference of perception and the imperfection of reason; but these differences when permitted as in this happy country to purify themselves by free discussion are but as passing clouds overspreading our land transiently and leaving our horizon more bright and serene.
He who has no opinion of his own but depends upon the opinion and taste of others is a slave.
The foolish and the dead alone never change their opinions.
Literature is strewn with the wreckage of those who have minded beyond reason the opinion of others.
Opinions differ most when there is least scientific warrant for having any.
Private opinion is weak but public opinion is almost omnipotent.
FLOP v. Suddenly to change ones opinions and go over to another party. The most notable flop on record was that of Saul of Tarsus who has been severely criticised as a turn-coat by some of our partisan journals.
In the frank expression of conflicting opinions lies the greatest promise of wisdom in governmental action.
My opinions may have changed but not the fact that Im right.
Someones opinion of you does not have to become your reality.
When people have no other tyrant their own public opinion becomes one.
I have opinions of my own strong opinions but I dont always agree with them.
The public buys its opinions as it buys its meat or takes its milk on the principle that it is cheaper to do this than to keep a cow. So it is but the milk is more likely to be watered.
The will to survive is not as important as the will to prevail … the answer to criminal aggression is retaliation.
Predominant opinions are generally the opinions of the generation that is vanishing.
He that never changes his opinions never corrects his mistakes will never be wiser on the morrow than he is today.
It is the absolute right of the State to supervise the formation of public opinion.
As our inclinations so our opinions.
None so blind as those that will not see.
So many heads so many wits.
To obtain a mans opinion of you make him mad.
We should be eternally vigilant against attempts to check the expression of opinions that we loathe.
As for the differences of opinion upon speculative questions if we wait till they are reconciled the action of human affairs must be suspended forever. But neither are we to look for perfection in any one man nor for agreement among many.
So many and so many and such glee.
As you put into practice the qualities of patience punctuality sincerity and solicitude you will have a better opinion of the world around you.
He who has an opinion of his own but depends on the opinion and tastes of others is a slave.
I have got you together to hear what I have written down. I do not wish your advice about the main matter for that I have determined for myself. Attributed to President Abraham Lincoln. Salmon P. Chase diary entry for September 22 1862 Diary and Correspondence of Salmon P Chase p. 88 (1903 reprinted 1971). According to the Chase account Lincoln spoke these words at a cabinet meeting he had called to inform the members of his decision to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. This quotation is also used in Carl Sandburg Abraham Lincoln: The War Years p. 584 (1939). Although these words are not used the same thought is conveyed in the diary of another member of Lincolns cabinet Gideon Welles. See his diary entry for the same date in Diary of Gideon Welles vol. 1 pp. 142-43 (1911).
Ready made opinions can be distributed day by day through the press radio and so on again and again till they reach the nerve cell and implant a fixed pattern in the brain. Consequently guided public opinion is the result according to Pavlovian theoreticians of good propaganda technique and the polls [are] a verification of the temporary successful action of the Pavlovian machinations on the mind.
New opinions are always suspected and usually opposed without any other reason but because they are not already common.
If it cant be expressed in figures it is not science; it is opinion.
Men are never so good or bad as their opinions.
Opinions cannot survive if one has no chance to fight for them.
The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacythe strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of other men. A weird life it is to be living always in somebody else?s imagination as if that were the only place in which one could become real.
Popular opinions on subjects not palpable to sense are often true but seldom or never the whole truth.
Where there is much desire to learn there of necessity will be much arguing much writing many opinions; for opinion in good men is but knowledge in the making.
There never were in the world two opinions alike no more than two hairs or two grains; the most universal quality is diversity.
We are all more average than we think.
It is hard enough to remember my opinions without also remembering my reasons for them!
Some praise at morning what they blame at night But always think the last opinion right.
A great many people mistake opinions for thoughts.
One should respect public opinion insofar as is necessary to avoid starvation and keep out of prison but anything that goes beyond this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny.
When an opinionated person starts to challenge something his mind shuts out all that could clear up the matter. The argument irritates him however just it might be and it seems that he is afraid of discovering the truth.
If you want to know your true opinion of someone watch the effect produced in you by the first sight of a letter from him. It is difficult to keep quiet if you have nothing to do.
GOOD is good and bad is bad and nowhere is the difference between good and bad so wide and so fateful as in human character. For character makes destiny in the individual and in the race.
So many men so many thoughts. Quot homines tot sententiae
I share no mans opinions; I have my own.
Loyalty to petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul.