Skeptic Sayings and Quotes

Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old skeptic quotes, skeptic sayings, and skeptic proverbs, collected over the years from a variety of sources.

What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence. Christopher Hitchens
A skeptic is one who knows too much for a fool, and too little for a wise man. H. W. SHAW
Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: It is those who know little, not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science. Charles Darwin
The path of sound credence is through the thick forest of skepticism. Geoge Jean Nathan
Great intellects are skeptical. Friedrich Nietzsche
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. Aristotle
Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it. Andre Gide
Skepticism, riddling the faith of yesterday, prepared the way for the faith of tomorrow. Romain Rolland
I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief. Gerry Spence
It's a most distressing affliction to have a sentimental heart and a skeptical mind. Naguib Mahfouz
Being a skeptic doesn't just mean refraining from automatic acceptance. It includes refraining from automatic rejection as well. David Smalley
Skeptics always stumble at the truth. Pierre Bizot
Every person who has mastered a profession is a skeptic concerning it. George Bernard Shaw
Large skepticism leads to large understanding. Small skepticism leads to small understanding. No skepticism leads to no understanding. Anonymous
I mean, you could claim that anything's real if the only basis for believing in it is that nobody's proved it doesn't exist! J. K. Rowling
Profound skepticism is favorable to conventions, because it doubts that the criticism of conventions is any truer than they are. George Santayana
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Carl Sagan
Skepticism literally means a thoughtful inquiry, the looking at a problem in a disinterested spirit, the surveying of a question from many sides. In this sense it is the very essence of philosophy and science. Joseph Alexander Leighton
Not knowing the answer to a question is not a valid excuse for making up a fairytale to explain it. Armin Navabi
Inquiry and doubt are essential checks against deception, self-deception, & error. Richard Carrier
Skepticism is the first step on the road to philosophy. Denis Diderot
Tell people there's an invisible man in the sky who created the universe, and the vast majority will believe you. Tell them the paint is wet, and they have to touch it to be sure. George Carlin
Skepticism is the chastity of the intellect. George Santayana
Skepticism is not a position that you stake out ahead of time and stick to no matter what. Michael Shermer
Skepticism is the agent of reason against organized irrationalism - and is therefore one of the keys to human social and civic decency. Michael Shermer
Skeptics, like dolphins, change when dying. Lady Blessington
Blind belief in authority is the greatest enemy of truth. Albert Einstein
Even the most vaunted experts are susceptible to wishful thinking and can be blinded to a truth by a conviction that is supported more by emotional attachment than reason. Daniel Dennett
Skepticism is the father of freedom. It is like the pry that holds open the door for truth to slip in. Gerry Spence
The skeptic dows not mean him who doubts, but him who investigates or researches, as opposed to him who asserts and thinks that he has found. Miguel de Unamuno