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What are the facts? Again and again and again - what are the facts? Shun wishful thinking, ignore divine revelation, forget what 'the stars foretell,' avoid opinion, care not what the neighbors think, never mind the unguessable 'verdict of history' - what are the facts, and to how many decimal places? You pilot always into an unknown future; facts are your single clue. Get the facts!

Robert A. Heinlein#145

ScienceFactsFutureDecisionReasoning

About this quote

What does it mean?
Heinlein urges focusing on objective facts for navigating the future, dismissing opinion, history, and supernatural claims.
In plain terms
Focus on facts to face the unknown.
What can you take from it?
Use facts to navigate the future.

Where it applies

  • science
  • decision making
  • analysis

Putting it to work

  • seek data
  • verify claims
  • ignore opinions

Questions to consider

  • What facts do you trust?
  • What should you ignore?

Another view

Facts alone may not address values or ethics.

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