A great deal of laziness of mind is called liberty of opinion.
—Unknown
To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
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
One lesson we learn early, that in spite of seeming difference, men are all of one pattern. We readily assume this with our mates, and are disappointed and angry if we find that we are premature, and that their watches are slower than ours. In fact, the only sin which we never forgive in each other is difference of opinion.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents, which, in prosperous circumstances, would have lain dormant.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
Self-actualized people are independent of the good opinion of others.
—Wayne Dyer (1940–2015) American Self-Help Author
Hardly a man in the world has an opinion upon morals, politics or religion which he got otherwise than through his associations and sympathies. Broadly speaking, there are none but corn-pone opinions. And broadly speaking, Corn-Pone stands for Self-Approval. Self-approval is acquired mainly from the approval of other people. The result is Conformity.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls.
—Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815–1902) American Social Reformer
Popular opinions, on subjects not palpable to sense, are often true, but seldom or never the whole truth.
—John Stuart Mill (1806–73) English Philosopher, Economist
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
We are very much what others think of us. The reception our observations meet with gives us courage to proceed, or damps our efforts.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Arguments only confirm people in their own opinions.
—Booth Tarkington (1869–1946) American Novelist, Dramatist
If you want to know your true opinion of someone, watch the effect produced in you by the first sight of a letter from him.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
s a leader… I have always endeavored to listen to what each and every person in a discussion had to say before venturing my own opinion. Oftentimes, my own opinion will simply represent a con-sensus of what I heard in the discussion. I always remember the axiom: a leader is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind.
—Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) South African Political leader
The proof of gold is fire.
—Common Proverb
We accumulate our opinions at an age when our understanding is at its weakest.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
The bell of public opinion is today making the Morgan-Rockefeller-Vanderbilt class jump. Nor are the strongest of our corporations immune. The railroads have had to jump pretty lively, and certain gigantic industrial combinations are also being put through their paces.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
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
Men who borrow their opinions can never repay their debts.
—George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax (1633–95) British Statesman, Writer, Politician
We should allow others’ excellences, to preserve a modest opinion of our own.
—Isaac Barrow
Judge men not by their opinions but by what their opinions have made of them.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
Our quaint metaphysical opinions, in an hour of anguish, are like playthings by the bedside of a child deathly sick.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
Public opinion, though often formed upon a wrong basis, yet generally has a strong underlying sense of justice
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
They that approve a private opinion, call it opinion; but they that dislike it, heresy; and yet heresy signifies no more than private opinion
—Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) English Political Philosopher
Men are only as loyal as their options.
—Bill Maher (b.1956) American Comedian, TV Personality, Social Critic, Author, Actor
In every fat book there is a thin book trying to get out.
—Unknown
If a man isn’t willing to take some risk for his opinions, either his opinions are no good or he’s no good.
—Ezra Pound (1885-1972) American Poet, Translator, Critic
So long as there are earnest believers in the world, they will always wish to punish opinions, even if their judgment tells them it is unwise and their conscience that it is wrong.
—Walter Bagehot (1826–77) English Economist, Journalist
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
Opinion is the main thing which does good or harm in the world. It is our false opinions of things which ruin us.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher