The important thing is not what they think of me, but what I think of them.
—Queen Victoria (1819–1901) British Royal
Things are not to be judged good or bad merely because the public think so.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
Honest differences of views and honest debate are not disunity. They are the vital process of policy-making among free men.
—Herbert Hoover (1874–1964) 31st American President
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
Truth is one forever absolute, but opinion is truth filtered through the moods, the blood, the disposition of the spectator.
—Wendell Phillips (1811–84) American Abolitionist, Lawyer, Orator
I tolerate with the utmost latitude the right of others to differ from me in opinion.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
My opinion, my conviction, gains immensely in strength and sureness the minute a second mind as adopted it.
—Malcolm Muggeridge (1903–90) English Journalist, Author, Satirist, Media Personality
Self-actualized people are independent of the good opinion of others.
—Wayne Dyer (1940–2015) American Self-Help Author
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
If God thought about you as much as you think about Him, where would you be?
—Unknown
Don’t be swayed just because they say it’s public opinion. Remember, public opinion is simple what everybody else thinks.
—Unknown
Opinions are made to be changed—or how is truth to be got at?
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
We should allow others’ excellences, to preserve a modest opinion of our own.
—Isaac Barrow
I care not what others think of what I do, but I care very much about what I think of what I do. That is character.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Historian, Political Leader, Explorer
When people are intimidated about having their own opinions, oppression is at hand.
—Unknown
People talk fundamentals and superlatives and then make some changes of detail.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841–1935) American Jurist, Author
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
Our opinions become fixed at the point where we stop thinking.
—Ernest Renan (1823–92) French Philosopher, Historian
Some ‘advanced thinkers’ are of the opinion that anyone who differs from the conventional opinion must be in the right. This is a delusion; if it were not, truth would be easier to come by than it is
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
I think we ought always to entertain our opinions with some measure of doubt. I shouldn’t wish people dogmatically to believe any philosophy, not even mine.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social 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
No work of art ever puts forward views. Views belong to people who are not artists.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
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
Men are disturbed not by things that happen, but by their opinion of the things that happen.
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
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 every fat book there is a thin book trying to get out.
—Unknown
Public opinion is held in reverence. It settles everything. Some think it is the voice of God.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Public opinion is the greatest force for good, when it happens to be on our side
—Unknown
No liberal man would impute a charge of unsteadiness to another for having changed his opinion.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
He that never changes his opinion never corrects mistakes and will never be wiser on the morrow than he is today.
—Tryon Edwards (1809–94) American Theologian, Author
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