If forty million people say a foolish thing it does not become a wise one, but the wise man is foolish to give them the lie.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions.
—Grace Hopper (1906–92) American Naval Officer, Mathematician
A public opinion poll is no substitute for thought.
—Warren Buffett (b.1930) American Investor
Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Every new opinion, at its starting, is precisely in a minority of one.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Opinions are to the vast apparatus of social existence what oil is to machines: one does not go up to a turbine and pour machine oil over it; one applies a little to hidden spindles and joints that one has to know.
—Walter Benjamin (1892–1940) German Literary and Marxist Critic
Among the best men are diversities of opinions; which should no more, in true reason, breed hatred, than one that loves black should be angry with him that is clothed in white; for thoughts are the very apparel of the mind.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
If a man should register all his opinions upon love, politics, religion, learning, etc., beginning from his youth, and so go on to old age, what a bundle of inconsistencies and contradictions would appear at last.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
The world will only, in the end, follow those who have despised as well as served it.
—Samuel Butler
If there be any among us who would wish to dissolve this Union or to change its republican form, let them stand undisturbed as monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
A man who trims himself to suit everybody will soon whittle himself away.
—Charles M. Schwab (1862–1939) American Businessperson
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, Historian, Novelist, Editor
I have remarked very clearly that I am often of one opinion when I am lying down and of another when I am standing up…
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
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
Statutes are mere milestones, telling how far yesterday’s thought had travelled; and the talk of the sidewalk today is the law of the land.—With us, law is nothing unless close behind it stands a warm, living public opinion.
—Wendell Phillips (1811–84) American Abolitionist, Lawyer, Orator
In all things reason should prevail; it is quite another thing to be stiff, than to be steady in an opinion.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Philosopher, Political Leader
Listen, everyone is entitled to my opinion.
—Madonna (b.1958) American Pop Singer, Actress
A man cannot utter two or three sentences without disclosing to intelligent ears precisely where he stands in life and thought, whether in the kingdom of the senses and the understanding, or in that of ideas and imagination, or in the realm of intuitions and duty.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
I usually make up my mind about a man in ten seconds, and I very rarely change it.
—Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) British Head of State
A baby is God’s opinion that life should go on.
—Carl Sandburg (1878–1967) American Biographer, Novelist, Socialist
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
It is with true opinions which one has the courage to utter, as with pawns first advanced on the chessboard; they may be beaten, but they have inaugurated a game which must be won.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Opinions are the cheapest commodities in the world.
—Unknown
Even good opinions are worth very little unless we hold them in the broad, intelligent, and spacious way.
—John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn (1838–1923) British Writer, Journalist, Political Leader, Editor
A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight and understanding.
—Marshall Mcluhan (1911–80) Canadian Writer, Thinker, Educator
Provided we look to and satisfy our consciences, no matter for opinion; let me deserve well though I hear ill.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Where an opinion is general, it is usually correct.
—Jane Austen (1775–1817) English Novelist
The important thing is not what they think of me, but what I think of them.
—Queen Victoria (1819–1901) British Royal
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
Those who never retract their opinions love themselves more than they love the truth.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
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