Quotable Quotes: Opinions
by Miki Saxon
Opinions are what set us apart from other animals that deal solely in reality or, as some wag said many decades ago, “Opinions are like assholes, everybody’s got one!”
Of course, when opinions differ, obviously, it’s the other person who is the asshole.
Oscar Wilde hit the nail on the head when he said, “One can give a really unbiased opinion only about things that do not interest one.” You can’t get away from the fact that caring means bias.
Most of us spend (waste?) a great deal of time and energy in an effort to positively influence others opinions of us; instead we would be better off to remember the words of Olin Miller, “We probably wouldn’t worry about what people think of us if we could know how seldom they do.”
But if you are one of those who worry Quentin Crisp would not only understand, but applaud the effort, “The very purpose of existence is to reconcile the glowing opinion we hold of ourselves with the appalling things that other people think about us.”
As one listens to opinions it is wise to remember the words of E. B. White, “Prejudice is a great time saver. You can form opinions without having to get the facts.” And that seems to be the most prevalent approach these days.
When ‘everybody says…’ is used to support an opinion it is well to remember Bertrand Russell’ comment, “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 wide-spread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible”
That’s all for today, but I’ll leave you with the words of James Russell Lowell to ponder and embrace, “The foolish and the dead alone never change their opinions.”
Image credit: Matt From London on flickr
January 24th, 2010 at 8:12 am
There is no fighting your biological structure: bias and prejudice are indeed time savers and even life savers. Facts are only there to confirm your opinions;)
January 24th, 2010 at 10:30 am
Hi Denis, that’s a fascinating view. I’m not agruing, but I have to ask. Is that the French attitude, a product of the US or your very own, independent creation?
January 25th, 2010 at 6:56 am
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_bias that is all I could find in less than 2 minutes ;)
Bias and prejudice have a negative connotation, whereas intuition has a more positive connotation. But really, that is how our brain works to make quick ‘survival’ decisions. No one is immune.
January 25th, 2010 at 10:02 am
Again, no arguments, but that is exactly why the Lowell’s quote is the most important (“The foolish and the dead alone never change their opinions.”)
The real problem, as I see it, is not the bias, but the unwillingness to change.
January 25th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Opinions strongly defended but weakly held as prof. Sutton would say ?
January 25th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Opinions strongly held, carefully considered in light of new information and changed when appropriate—a recurring fantasy of mine