Biased Interpretation Quotes

We do not see people as they are, but as they appear to us. And these appearances are usually misleading.

Men quickly find a theory that adapts itself to their desires.

To frame an issue is to reduce it to a story for which there is only one possible outcome

The human understanding when it has once adopted an opinion (either as being the received opinion or as being agreeable to itself) draws all things else to support and agree with it. And though there be a greater number and weight of instances to be found on the other side, yet these it either neglects and despises, or else by some distinction sets aside and rejects, in order that by this great and pernicious predetermination the authority of its former conclusions may remain inviolate.

Science abuse is any attempt to inappropriately undermine or otherwise interfere with the scientific process, or scientific conclusions, for political or ideological purposes. Science abuse is not exclusively right wing.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere.

There is no such thing as an objective interpretation.

But men may construe things after their fashion, Clean from the purpose of the things themselves.

I know you lawyers can with ease, Twist words and meanings as you please; That language, by your skill made pliant, Will bend to favour every client; That 'tis the fee directs the sense, To make out either side's pretense.

It's unfortunate people can twist and turn things to fit whatever narrative they'd like it to fit.

With the camera you might even not need the reporters. But, you see, media can't trust you to watch [Barack] Obama without them telling you what you just saw and analyzing it.

I think if somebody is so set in their ways about what they feel about something - and you get this a lot in academia, of course, and also different sorts of journalism too - you're going to sweep under the carpet the facts that don't suit your thesis. And I think that happens quite a lot in the courtroom, for instance.

You know, we're each the hero of our own story and we perceive what's going on around us, and especially in a relationship, from the kind of viewpoint of, 'Well, this is my story, and I'm the hero of that, and I justify what I do around it.'

REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work upon a book, and so read out of it/ The qualities that you have first read into it.

What is a moderate interpretation of the text? Halfway between what it really means and what you'd like it to mean?

People make their own reality. That was what Praxis had taught him years ago. A hundred people can witness the exact same event, and give two hundred and three different accountings of it.

I'm appalled that when I talk about the neo-conservatives it's somehow twisted, some sort of a racist comment.

To read in the service of any ideology is not, in my judgment, to read at all.

Maybe you just saw what you wanted to see. Or maybe you justfelt what you wanted to feel.

He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lampposts—for support rather than illumination.

We have professional economists who can defend any viewpoint with statistics and they do that everywhere in the world.

We only see what we want to see; we only hear what we want to hear. Our belief system is just like a mirror that only shows us what we believe.

I only use statistics to reinforce what I already think, or if it's something unusual.

Political writings are often over-exaggerated polemics bearing the imprint of the period and the place in which written.

It is impossible for human beings not to view something subjectively.