New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common.
—John Locke (1632–1704) English Philosopher, Physician
If it can’t be expressed in figures, it’s not science it’s opinion.
—Robert A. Heinlein (1907–88) American Science Fiction Writer
A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight and understanding.
—Marshall Mcluhan (1911–80) Canadian Writer, Thinker, Educator
Public opinion is held in reverence. It settles everything. Some think it is the voice of God.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Altered opinions do not alter a man’s character (or do so very little); but they do illuminate individual aspects of the constellation of his personality which with a different constellation of opinions had hitherto remained dark and unrecognizable.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
What we call public opinion is generally public sentiment.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
The public buys its opinions as it buys its meat, or takes in 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.
—Samuel Butler
A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his companions by every word. Every opinion reacts on him who utters it. It is a thread-ball thrown at a mark, but the other end remains on the thrower’s bag.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
A man must know how to fly in the face of opinion; a woman to submit to it.
—Anne Louise Germaine de Stael (1766–1817) French Woman of Letters
Those who never retract their opinions love themselves more than they love the truth.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
It is the folly of too many to mistake the echo of a London coffee-house for the voice of the kingdom.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
We accumulate our opinions at an age when our understanding is at its weakest.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
Fly no opinion because it is new, but strictly search, and after careful view, reject it if false, embrace it if ’tis true.
—Lucretius (c.99–55 BCE) Roman Epicurean Poet, Philosopher
Be sure to have a controversial opinion, and men will talk about you.
—Arabic Proverb
Opinion is that high and mighty dame which rules the world, and in the mind doth frame distastes or likings; for in the human race, she makes the fancy various as the face.
—Jeremiah Brown Howell
Public Opinion… an attempt to organize the ignorance of the community, and to elevate it to the dignity of physical force.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
No errors of opinion can possibly be dangerous in a country where opinion is left free to grapple with them.
—William Gilmore Simms (1806–70) American Poet, Novelist, Historian
We credit scarcely any persons with good sense except those who are of our opinion.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Don’t be swayed just because they say it’s public opinion. Remember, public opinion is simple what everybody else thinks.
—Unknown
The opinion prevailed among advanced minds that it was time that belief should be replaced increasingly by knowledge; belief that did not itself rest on knowledge was superstition, and as such had to be opposed.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
We would not let ourselves be burned to death for our opinions: we are not sure enough of them for that. But perhaps for the right to have our opinions and to change them.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
Opinions have vested interests just as men have.
—Samuel Butler
A man is getting along on the road to wisdom when he begins to realize that his opinion is just an opinion.
—Unknown
It often takes more courage to change one’s opinion than to stick to it.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
A difference of opinion is what makes horse racing and missionaries.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
Nothing is more unjust or capricious than public opinion.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Wonderful “Force of Public Opinion!” We must act and walk in all points as it prescribes; follow the traffic it bids us, realize the sum of money, the degree of “influence” it expects of us, or we shall be lightly esteemed; certain mouthfuls of articulate wind will be blown at us, and this what mortal courage can front?
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
How much time he gains who does not look to see what his neighbor says or does or thinks, but only at what he does himself, to make it just and holy.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
Public opinion contains all kinds of falsity and truth, but it takes a great man to find the truth in it. The great man of the age is the one who can put into words the will of his age, tell his age what its will is, and accomplish it. What he does is the heart and the essence of his age, he actualizes his age. The man who lacks sense enough to despise public opinion expressed in gossip will never do anything great.
—Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831) German Philosopher
A baby is God’s opinion that life should go on.
—Carl Sandburg (1878–1967) American Biographer, Novelist, Socialist
The history of human opinion is scarcely anything more than the history of human errors.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
This is the true joy in life: Being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Public opinion, a vulgar, impertinent, anonymous tyrant who deliberately makes life unpleasant for anyone who is not content to be the average man.
—William Motter Inge (1913–73) American Playwright, Novelist
Ah! Sir, a boy’s being flogged is not so severe as a man’s having the hiss of the world against him.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
I think that we should be eternally vigilant against attempts to check the expression of opinions that we loathe and believe to be fraught with death, unless they so imminently threaten immediate interference with the lawful and pressing purposes of the law that an immediate check is required to save the country.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841–1935) American Jurist, Author
Private opinion is weak, but public opinion is almost omnipotent.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
A great deal of laziness of mind is called liberty of opinion.
—Unknown
He who has no opinion of his own, but depends upon the opinion and taste of others, is a slave.
—Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock (1724–1803) German Poet
Opinions are the cheapest commodities in the world.
—Unknown
The masses procure their opinions ready made in open market.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
No two men see the world exactly alike, and different temperaments will apply in different ways a principle that they both acknowledge. The same man will, indeed, often see and judge the same things differently on different occasions: early convictions must give way to more mature ones. Nevertheless, may not the opinions that a man holds and expresses withstand all trials, if he only remains true to himself and others?
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Social opinion is like a sharp knife. There are foolish people who regard it only with terror, and dare not touch or meddle with it; there are more foolish people, who, in rashness or defiance, seize it by the blade, and get cut and mangled for their pains; and there are wise people, who grasp it discreetly and boldly by the handle, and use it to carve out their own purposes.
—Anna Brownell Jameson (1794–1860) Irish-born Literary, Art Critic
It is clear that thought is not free if the profession of certain opinions makes it impossible to earn a living.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
All power, even the most despotic, rests ultimately on opinion.
—David Hume (1711–76) Scottish Philosopher, Historian
Reality doesn’t wait for your opinion, vote, or permission, sweetheart. It just keeps being what it is and doing what it does.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
I’ve never had a humble opinion in my life. If you’re going to have one, why bother to be humble about it?
—Joan Baez (b.1941) American Singer, Songwriter, Musician
I agree with no one’s opinion. I have some of my own.
—Ivan Turgenev (1818–83) Russian Novelist, Playwright
In my opinion a mathematician need not preoccupy himself with philosophy—An opinion, moreover, which has been expressed by many philosophers.
—Indian Proverb
The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind.
—William Blake (1757–1827) English Poet, Painter, Printmaker
No one can have a higher opinion of him than I have; and I think he’s a dirty little beast.
—W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) English Dramatist, Librettist, Poet, Illustrator