Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies.

It is natural for the mind to believe, and for the will to love; so that, for want of true objects, they must attach themselves to false.

It is desire that engenders belief and if we fail as a rule to take this into account, it is because most of the desires that create beliefs end ... only with our own life.

Man makes holy what he believes as he makes beautiful what he loves.

Man is a credulous animal, and must believe something; in the absence of good grounds for belief, he will be satisfied with bad ones.

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 widespread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible.

Much of human history can, I think, be described as a gradual and sometimes painful liberation from provincialism, the emerging awareness that there is more to the world than was generally believed by our ancestors.

Of what worth are convictions that bring not suffering?

That which has been believed by everyone, always and everywhere, has every chance of being false.

Man can believe the impossible, but man can never believe the improbable.