#opinio

To criticize a person for their race is manifestly irrational and ridiculous, but to criticize their religion, that is a right. That is a freedom. The freedom to criticize ideas, any ideas - even if they are sincerely held beliefs - is one of the fundamental freedoms of society. A law which attempts to say you can criticize and ridicule ideas as long as they are not religious ideas is a very peculiar law indeed. ↗

— Rowan Atkinson

#beliefs #criticism #criticize #freedom #freedom-of-speech

The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd; indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widely spread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible. ↗

— Bertrand Russell

#bertrand #evidence #foolish #majority #opinion

Time obliterates the fictions of opinion and confirms the decisions of nature. ↗

— Marcus Tullius Cicero

#opinion #time #nature

The modern habit of saying "This is my opinion, but I may be wrong" is entirely irrational. If I say that it may be wrong, I say that is not my opinion. The modern habit of saying "Every man has a different philosophy; this is my philosophy and it suits me" – the habit of saying this is mere weak-mindedness. A cosmic philosophy is not constructed to fit a man; a cosmic philosophy is constructed to fit a cosmos. A man can no more possess a private religion than he can possess a private sun and moon. ↗

— G.K. Chesterton

#opinions #philosophy #relativism #wisdom #religion

When a man gives his opinion, he's a man. When a woman gives her opinion, she's a bitch. ↗

— Bette Davis

#double-standards #empowerment #feminism #gender #hypocrisy

I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat, or a prostitute. ↗

— Rebecca West

#empowerment #feminism #opinions #women #womens-liberation

People are stupid. They will believe a lie because they want to believe it's true, or because they are afraid it might be true. ↗

— Terry Goodkind

#willful-ignorance #true

If God were our one and only desire we would not be so easily upset when our opinions do not find outside acceptance. ↗

— Thomas à Kempis

#christ #christian #opinions #christ

But collective thinking is usually short-lived. We're fickle, stupid beings with poor memories and a great gift for self-destruction. ↗

— Suzanne Collins

#humanity #public-opinion #games

Each voice carries a portion of value, no matter how unpalatable or distasteful that voice may be: no one person, government, ideology, transnational, or religious institution can own and dominate the whole. ↗

— B.W. Powe

#opinions #philosophy #value #ideology