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Faith plays an important role in an open society. Exactly because our understanding is imperfect, we cannot base our decisions on knowledge alone. We need to rely on beliefs, religious or otherwise, to help us make decisions. But we must remain open to the possibility that we may be wrong so that we can correct our mistakes. Otherwise, we are bound to be wrong.

George Soros#54

Open societySocietyBeliefDoubtKnowledgeTruth

About this quote

What does it mean?
Open society requires faith due to imperfect knowledge, but beliefs must remain corrigible.
In plain terms
Use beliefs to decide when knowledge is incomplete, but stay open to error.
What can you take from it?
Stay open to correction even when relying on faith or beliefs.

Where it applies

  • ethical debates
  • policy making
  • personal decisions

Putting it to work

  • remain open to feedback
  • challenge dogmatic views

Questions to consider

  • Can belief coexist with doubt?
  • Is knowledge enough?

Another view

Faith can sometimes hinder necessary corrections.

More from George Soros

  1. An open society such as ours is based on the recognition that our understanding of reality is inherently imperfect. Nobody is in possession of the ultimate tru…

    Permalink to quote #53
  2. President Bush has shown that he is incapable of recognizing his mistakes. He insists on making reality conform to his beliefs even at the cost of deceiving hi…

    Permalink to quote #55
  3. The nation is deeply divided and the two camps seem to be talking past each other. John Kerry won all three debates but President Bush invokes his faith and th…

    Permalink to quote #52

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