Richard Dawkins Belief Quotations

The meme for blind faith secures its own perpetuation by the simple unconscious expedient of discouraging rational inquiry.

My thoughts, my beliefs, my feelings are all in my brain. My brain is going to rot.

Scientific beliefs are supported by evidence, and they get results. Myths and faiths are not and do not.

The fact that somebody does good doesn't make their beliefs true.

False beliefs can be every bit as consoling as true ones, right up until the moment of disillusionment.

Human psychology has a near universal tendency to let belief be coloured by desire.

Beliefs. Once entrenched in a culture, they persist, evolve and diverge, in a manner reminiscent of biological evolution.

I think I would abolish schools which systematically inculcate sectarian beliefs.

Disagreements between incompatible beliefs cannot be settled by reasoned argument because reasoned argument is drummed out of those trained in religion from the cradle.

Faith is belief without evidence and reason; coincidentally that's also the definition of delusion.

There's no point of having faith if you have evidence.

I might respect you as a brilliant intellect, runner, musician or juggler. But respect your BELIEFS? Only if they're supported by evidence.

The patient typically finds himself impelled by some deep, inner conviction that something is true, or right, or virtuous: a conviction that doesn't seem to owe anything to evidence or reason, but which, nevertheless, he feels as totally compelling and convincing. We doctors refer to such a belief as 'faith'.