Christopher Hitchens Quotes

We must never assume that which is incapable of proof.

It annoys me that the burden of proof is on us. It should be "You came up with the idea. Why do you believe it?" I could tell you I've got superpowers. But I can't go up to people saying "Prove I can't fly." They'd go: "What do you mean 'Prove you can't fly'? Prove you can!"

Convincing yourself doesn't win an argument.

Zealous men are ever displaying to you the strength of their belief, while judicious men are showing you the grounds of it.

Simply because you do not have evidence that something exists does not mean that you have evidence that it doesn't exist.

Euclid taught me that without assumptions there is no proof. Therefore, in any argument, examine the assumptions.

Convictions do not imply reasons.

A wise man proportions his belief to the evidence.

I wish to propose for the reader's favorable consideration a doctrine which may, I fear, appear wildly paradoxical and subversive. The doctrine in question is this: that it is undesirable to believe in a proposition when there is no ground whatever for supposing it true.

Faith is a cop-out. If the only way you can accept an assertion is by faith, then you are conceding that it can’t be taken on its own merits.

Neither table pounding nor dreamy euphoria can be permitted to substitute for plausible argument. If impatience is not to be allowed to short-circuit argument with unsupported assertions, reason must be honored above the crude and noisy enthusiasms and antipathies.

People in general have no notion of the sort and amount of evidence often needed to prove the simplest matter of fact.

In my opinion, it helps enormously to know why something is true, rather than being told it is true, for why should you believe me? Never believe anything on the authority of a single person but seek confirmation — and reason is the best confirmation

If there is one thing that I take pride in, it is the fact that I never, ever make a charge without offering a substantial amount of support for it. You may ultimately end up not agreeing with me, but you will have to concede that I offered much evidence in support of my position, something that people frequently do not do.

Logic is pointless.

If someone doesn’t value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide that proves they should value evidence. If someone doesn’t value logic, what logical argument would you invoke to prove they should value logic?

Even things that are true can be proved.

Analogy cannot serve as proof.

Why do you keep maintaining your ideas are right if you can't prove them?

Logic is the art of convincing us some truth.

I ask you to believe nothing that you cannot verify for yourself.

Do not believe just because you want to believe.

Don't confuse evidence with a conclusion.

Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using his intelligence; he is just using his memory.

Every single university student should study philosophy. You need to lead the examined life and question your beliefs. If you don't learn critical thinking, then political debate degenerates into a contest of slogans.