WIST Quotations

Robinson, James Harvey -- An Introduction to the History of Western Europe, ch. 1 “The Historical Point of View” (1902)

Dave — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 21:50:07 +0000

It is impossible to divide the past into distinct, clearly defined periods and prove that one age ended and another began in a particular year, such as 476, or 1453, or 1789. Men do not and cannot change their habits and ways of doing things all at once, no matter what happens.

James Harvey Robinson (1863-1936) American historian and educator
An Introduction to the History of Western Europe, ch. 1 “The Historical Point of View” (1902)
(Source)

Robinson, James Harvey -- The Mind in the Making, ch. 4 “Rationalizing” (1921)

Dave — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 18:12:36 +0000

We sometimes find ourselves changing our minds without any resistance or heavy emotion, but if we are told that we are wrong we resent the imputation and harden our hearts. We are incredibly heedless in the formation of our beliefs, but find ourselves filled with an illicit passion for them when anyone proposes to rob us of their companionship. It is obviously not the ideas themselves that are dear to us, but our self-esteem which is threatened.

James Harvey Robinson (1863-1936) American historian and educator
The Mind in the Making, ch. 4 “Rationalizing” (1921)
(Source)

Robinson, James Harvey -- The Mind in the Making, ch. 4 “Rationalizing” (1921)

Dave — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 15:26:14 +0000

Few of us take the pains to study the origin of our cherished convictions; indeed, we have a natural repugnance to so doing. We like to continue to believe what we have been accustomed to accept as true, and the resentment aroused when doubt is cast upon any of our assumptions leads us to seek every manner of excuse for clinging to them. The result is that most of our so-called reasoning consists in finding arguments for going on believing as we already do.

James Harvey Robinson (1863-1936) American historian and educator
The Mind in the Making, ch. 4 “Rationalizing” (1921)
(Source)

Robinson, James Harvey -- The Mind in the Making, Pt II, ch. 4, “Rationalizing” (1921)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

We are incredibly heedless in the formation of our beliefs, but find ourselves filled with an illicit passion for them when anyone proposes to rob us of their companionship.

James Harvey Robinson (1863-1936) American historian and educator
The Mind in the Making, Pt II, ch. 4, “Rationalizing” (1921)

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