Few of us take the pains to study the origin of our cherished convictions. James Harvey Robinson More Quotes by James Harvey Robinson More Quotes From James Harvey Robinson Our goal, simply stated, is to be the best. James Harvey Robinson being-the-best excellence goal We like to continue to believe what we have been accustomed to accept as true, and the resentment aroused when doubt is cast upon any of our assumptions leads us to seek every manner of excuse for clinging to them. The result is that most of our so-called reasoning consists in finding arguments for going on believing as we already do. James Harvey Robinson resentment doubt believe Political campaigns are designedly made into emotional orgies which endeavor to distract attention from the real issues involved, and they actually paralyze what slight powers of cerebration man can normally muster. James Harvey Robinson emotional real men History ... may be regarded as an artificial extension and : broadening of our memories and may be used to overcome the natural bewilderment of all unfamiliar situations. James Harvey Robinson overcoming memories history Speech gave man a unique power to lead a double life, he could say one thing and do another. James Harvey Robinson unique power life Each of us is great insofar as we perceive and act on the infinite possibilities which lie undiscovered and unrecognized about us. James Harvey Robinson addiction motivational lying We are incredibly heedless in the formation of our beliefs, but if someone tries to take them from us, we defend them with almost an illicit passion. James Harvey Robinson passion belief trying To become historically-minded is to be grown-up. James Harvey Robinson We are incredibly heedless in the formation of our beliefs, but find ourselves filled with an illicit passion for them when anyone proposes to rob us of their companionship. It is obviously not the ideas themselves that are dear to us, but our self-esteem, which is threatened. James Harvey Robinson passion self-esteem ideas Curiosity is idle only to those who fail to realize that it may be a very rare and indispensable thing. James Harvey Robinson realizing curiosity may In its amplest meaning History includes every trace and vestige of everything that man has done or thought since first he appeared on the earth. James Harvey Robinson done men history Rationalizing is the self-exculpation which occurs when we feel ourselves, or our group, accused of misapprehension or error. James Harvey Robinson atheism errors self Partisanship is our great curse. We too readily assume that everything has two sides and that it is our duty to be on one or the other. James Harvey Robinson two-sides atheism political Most of our so-called reasoning consists in finding arguments for going on believing as we already do. James Harvey Robinson intellectual wisdom believe We continue to think of new things in old ways. James Harvey Robinson new-things way thinking We find it hard to believe that other people's thoughts are as silly as our own, but they probably are. James Harvey Robinson stupid silly believe I am opposed to censorship. Censors are pretty sure fools. I have no confidence in the suppression of everyday facts. James Harvey Robinson fool everyday facts Man has long found solace in good talk to offset bad conduct. James Harvey Robinson found men long Mere lack of success does not discredit a method, for there are many things that determine and perpetuate our sanctified ways of doing things besides their success in reaching their proposed ends. James Harvey Robinson doe success way There is nothing else anything like so interesting to ourselves as ourselves. James Harvey Robinson self interesting
