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About this quote

What does it mean?
People tend to reject facts or theories that do not serve a practical purpose.
In plain terms
We ignore ideas that have no use to us.
What can you take from it?
Question why you disbelieve useful facts.

Where it applies

  • learning
  • debate
  • everyday reasoning

Putting it to work

  • test utility of beliefs
  • challenge bias

Questions to consider

  • What beliefs do you dismiss?
  • Why?

Another view

Some valuable facts may seem useless initially.

More from William James

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  3. There is but one unconditional commandment, which is that we should seek incessantly, with fear and trembling, so to vote and to act as to bring about the very…

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