I neither deny nor affirm the immortality of man. I see no reason for believing in it, but, on the other hand, I have no means of disproving it.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker neither believes nor disbelieves in immortality, claiming no reason to believe it but no way to disprove it.
- In plain terms
- I cannot prove life after death exists or does not exist.
- What can you take from it?
- Uncertainty is valid when evidence is lacking on both sides.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What do you do when proof is impossible?
- How much evidence do you need to believe?
Another view
Waiting for proof might mean never deciding on a stance.
More from Thomas Henry Huxley
I am too much of a sceptic to deny the possibility of anything... but I don't see my way to your conclusion.
Permalink to quote #40 Give me such evidence as would justify me in believing in anything else and I will believe that. Why should I not? It is not half so wonderful as the conservat…
Permalink to quote #42 My business is to teach my aspirations to conform themselves to fact, not to try and make facts harmonise with my aspirations.
Permalink to quote #39
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