Thomas Gilovich Quotes

#1. We seek opinions that are likely to support what we want to be true.

Thomas Gilovich

#2. Because so much disagreement remains hidden, our beliefs are not properly shaped by healthy scrutiny and debate. The absence of such argument also leads us to exaggerate the extent to which other people believe the way we do.

Thomas Gilovich

#3. What we believe is heavily influenced by what we think others believe

Thomas Gilovich

#4. We learn from history that man can never learn anything from history.

Thomas Gilovich

#5. For desired conclusions, we ask ourselves, "Can I believe this?", but for unpalatable conclusions we ask, "Must I believe this?

Thomas Gilovich

#6. People will always prefer black-and-white over shades of grey, and so there will always be the temptation to hold overly-simplified beliefs and to hold them with excessive confidence

Thomas Gilovich

#7. We must recognize that our view of the world is just that - a view that has been shaped by our own vantage point, history, and idiosyncratic knowledge.

Thomas Gilovich

#8. Often when we get to know someone whose words and deeds were off-putting, once we get a better sense of how that person is understanding events, our dislike dissipates.

Thomas Gilovich

#9. We may be particularly inclined to acquire and retain beliefs that make us feel good.

Thomas Gilovich

#10. People are often unaware of their own unawareness

Thomas Gilovich

#11. We believe certain things because they ought to be true.

Thomas Gilovich

#12. We humans seem to be extremely good at generating ideas, theories, and explanations that have the ring of plausibility. We may be relatively deficient, however, in evaluating and testing our ideas once they are formed

Thomas Gilovich

#13. When we do cross paths with people whose beliefs and attitudes conflict with our own, we are rarely challenged.

Thomas Gilovich