I think my opinions are good and sound, but who does not think the same of his own?
Good sense is, of all things among men, the most equally distributed; for every one thinks himself so abundantly provided with it, that those even who are the most difficult to satisfy in everything else, do not usually desire a larger measure of this quality than they already possess. And in this it is not likely that all are mistaken: the conviction is rather to be held as testifying that the power of judging aright and of distinguishing truth from error, which is properly what is called good sense or reason, is by nature equal in all men; and that the diversity of our opinions, consequently, does not arise from some being endowed with a larger share of reason than others, but solely from this, that we conduct our thoughts along different ways, and do not fix our attention on the same objects. For to be possessed of a vigorous mind is not enough; the prime requisite is rightly to apply it.
Though men be much governed by interest; yet even interest itself, and all human affairs, are entirely governed by opinion.
So many men, so many opinions.
We are so fond of being out among Nature, because it has no opinions about us.
Article XI – The free communication of thoughts and of opinions is one of the most precious rights of man: any citizen thus may speak, write, print freely, except to respond to the abuse of this liberty, in the cases determined by the law.
Article X – No one may be disturbed for his opinions, even religious ones, provided that their manifestation does not trouble the public order established by the law.
Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them.
Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance.
The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum.
At the root of our civilization, there is the freedom of each person of thought, of belief, of opinion, of work, of leisure.
The usefulness of an opinion is itself matter of opinion.
It is the nature of the artist to mind excessively what is said about him. Literature is strewn with the wreckage of men who have minded beyond reason the opinions of others.
If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.
Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.
Popular opinions, on subjects not palpable to sense, are often true, but seldom or never the whole truth.
Our self love endures more impatiently the condemnation of our tastes than of our opinions.
When it is not in our power to follow what is true, we ought to follow what is most probable.
I have often wondered how it is that every man loves himself more than all the rest of men, but yet sets less value on his own opinions of himself than on the opinions of others.
The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions.
The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd; indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widespread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible.
