Inquiry Quotes

• Inquiry is more important than answers, for it is the questions we ask and the way in which we ask them that defines us.

  John Paul Caponigro

  Important, Answers, Way

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• The words "question" and "quest" are cognates. Only through inquiry can we discover truth.

  Carl Sagan

  Truth, Quests

  Carl Sagan (2011). “Broca's Brain: Reflections on the Romance of Science”, p.365, Ballantine Books

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• Curiosity in children, is but an appetite for knowledge. The great reason why children abandon themselves wholly to silly pursuits and trifle away their time insipidly is, because they find their curiosity balked, and their inquiries neglected.

  John Locke

  Children, Silly, Curiosity

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• Doubt is often better than overconfidence, for it leads to inquiry, and inquiry leads to invention.

  Hudson Maxim

  Doubt, Invention, Overconfidence

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• Doubt is the incentive to truth and inquiry leads the way.

  Hosea Ballou

  Truth, Doubt, Curiosity

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• Difference of opinion leads to inquiry, and inquiry to the truth.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Differences, Opinion, Differences Of Opinion

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• What's in a question, you ask? Everything. It is evoking stimulating response or stultifying inquiry. It is, in essence, the very core of teaching.

  John Dewey

  Teaching, Essence, Questioning

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• With how many things are we on the brink of becoming acquainted, if cowardice or carelessness did not restrain our inquiries.

  Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

  Becoming, Cowardice, Frankenstein Novel

  Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (1974). “Frankenstein, Or the Modern Prometheus: The 1818 Text”, p.46, University of Chicago Press

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• You have to be again innocent, ignorant, not knowing anything, so that the questions can start arising again. Again the inquiry becomes alive, and with the inquiry becoming alive you cannot vegetate. Then life becomes an exploration, an adventure.

  Rajneesh

  Motivational, Adventure, Knowing

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• The best compliment to a child or a friend is the feeling you give him that he has been set free to make his own inquiries, to come to conclusions that are right for him, whether or not they coincide with your own.

  Alistair Cooke

  Best Friend, Christian, Children

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• Wonder is the foundation of all philosophy, inquiry the progress, ignorance the end.

  Michel de Montaigne

  Philosophy, Ignorance, Progress

  Michel de Montaigne (1866). “Works of Michael de Montaigne: Comprising His Essays, Journey Into Italy, and Letters”, p.355

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• Doubt comes in at the window when inquiry is denied at the door.

  Benjamin Jowett

  Inspirational, Doors, Doubt

  Frederick Temple, Rowland Williams, Baden Powell, Henry Bristow Wilson, Charles Wycliffe Goodwin (2013). “Essays and Reviews”, p.373, Cambridge University Press

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• The real problem is usually two or three questions deep. If you want to go after someone's problem, be aware that most people aren't going to reveal what the real problem is after the first question.

  Jim Rohn

  Real, Two, People

  FaceBook post by Jim Rohn from May 29, 2015

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• Reason and free inquiry are the only effectual agents against error.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Errors, Enquiry, Agents

  Thomas Jefferson, Richard Holland Johnston, Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association of the United States “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson”

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• It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry.

  Thomas Paine

  Peace, Truth, War

  Thomas Paine (1824). “The Political Writings of Thomas Paine: Secretary to the Committee of Foreign Affairs in the American Revolution : to which is Prefixed a Brief Sketch of the Author's Life”, p.284

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• I keep the subject of my inquiry constantly before me, and wait till the first dawning opens gradually, by little and little, into a full and clear light.

  Isaac Newton

  Light, Waiting, Littles

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• To prevent inquiry is amongst the worst of evils.

  Thomas Holcroft

  Evil, Tyranny, Worst

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• As one may bring himself to believe almost anything he is inclined to believe, it makes all the difference whether we begin or end with the inquiry, 'What is truth?'

  Richard Whately

  Truth, Believe, Differences

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• I use the word inquiry as synonymous with The Work...Inquiry is a way to end confusion and to experience internal peace, even in a world of apparent chaos. Above all else, inquiry is about realizing that all the answers we ever need are always available inside us.

  Byron Katie

  Confusion, Experience, Needs

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• A subtle thought that is in error may yet give rise to fruitful inquiry that can establish truths of great value.

  Isaac Asimov

  Encouragement, Truth, Mistake

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• All inquiries carry with them some element of risk.

  Carl Sagan

  Risk, Elements

  Carl Sagan (2011). “Broca's Brain: Reflections on the Romance of Science”, p.13, Ballantine Books

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• If there were no falsehood in the world, there would be no doubt, if there were no doubt, there would be no inquiry; if no inquiry, no wisdom, no knowledge, no genius; and Fancy herself would lie muffled up in her robe, inactive, pale, and bloated.

  Walter Savage Landor

  Lying, Doubt, Would Be

  Walter Savage Landor (1829). “Imaginary Conversations of Literary Men and Statesmen”, p.222

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• Love is free; to promise for ever to love the same woman is not less absurd than to promise to believe the same creed; such a vow in both cases excludes us from all inquiry.

  Percy Bysshe Shelley

  Love, Believe, Promise

  Percy Bysshe Shelley (1823). “Queen Mab: a philosophical poem : with notes”, p.110

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• I've never done too much inquiry into angels.

  Misha Collins

  Angel, Done, Too Much

  "TV.com Q&A: Supernatural's angelic Misha Collins". Interview with Tim Surette, www.tv.com. October 2, 2008.

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• Educationists should build the capacities of the spirit of inquiry, creativity, entrepreneurial and moral leadership among students and become their role model.

  Abdul Kalam

  Leadership, Creativity, Young Generation

  Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (0101). “Enlightened Minds”, p.34, Prabhat Prakashan

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