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• The infidelity of the Gentile world, and that more especially of men of rank and learning in it, is resolved into a principle which, in my judgment, will account for the inefficacy of any argument, or any evidence whatever, viz. contempt prior to investigation.
  • William Paley, in A View of the Evidences of Christianity (1794), as quoted in The Quote Verifier: Who Said What, Where, and When (2006) by Ralph Keyes
  • Variant: There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all argument, and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance. This principle is, contempt prior to examination.
    • As quoted in Anglo-Israel or, The British Nation: The Lost Tribes of Israel (1879) by Rev. William H. Poole
  • A similar statement apparently derived from this has become widely attributed to Herbert Spencer, but there are no records of him ever saying or writing it, the first attribution to him occurring in 1931:

There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance — that principle is contempt prior to investigation.

Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895)

• The spirit of contempt is the true spirit of Antichrist; for no other is more directly opposed to Christ.
  • Henry Giles, p. 160.

• Christ saw much in this world to weep over, and much to pray over: but he saw nothing in it to look upon with contempt.
  • Edwin Hubbell Chapin, p. 160.

• There is no room in the universe for the least contempt or pride; but only for a gentle and a reverent heart.
  • James Martineau, p. 160.

• Nothing is so contemptible as habitual contempt. It is impossible to remain long under its control without being dwarfed by its influence.
  • Elias Lyman Magoon, p. 160.

• Ah, there is nothing more beautiful than the difference between the thought about sinful creatures which is natural to a holy being, and the thought about sinful creatures which is natural to a self-righteous being. The one is all contempt: the other, all pity.
  • Alexander MacLaren, p. 160.

• Contempt leaves a deeper scar than anger.
  • Author unidentified, p. 160.

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• "Familiarity induces contempt, but distance secures respect." - Anonymous

• "Men despise what they do not understand." ~ Anonymous