Friday, August 27, 2010

Opinions Are Like Belly-Buttons, Everyone's Got One

My opinions are strongly held and expressed (not so much on my blog, I try to keep it neutral). I've come to realize that when I am being forthright with my beliefs, I am often perceived as being opinionated or divisive. I like to debate. Some people take that to mean argumentative. I had to learn who I could get into that kind of conversation with and who I couldn't. People like me don't mean to step on toes. We like to throw around ideas and to hear new ideas.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes on the topic of opinions and ideas:

Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions. -Oliver Wendell Holmes

Every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world. -Arthur Schopenhauer

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. -Aristotle

To repeat what others have said, requires education; to challenge it requires brains. -Mary Pettibone Poole

Personally I'm always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught. -Sir Winston Churchill

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject. -Sir Winston Churchill

I prefer tongue-tied knowledge to ignorant loquacity. -Cicero

Great discoveries and achievements invariably involve the cooperation of many minds. -Alexander Graham Bell

Ideas are like children; your own are always wonderful. -Anonymous



I don't think everyone has to think like me...but I am surprised sometimes by what people believe.

27 comments:

  1. I've always liked the Winston Churchill quote.

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  2. One just remember that everyone is entitled to their opinion. Someone I know believes he is "expressing his opinion"... which I suppose he is... but he does it in an obnoxious bully fashion. Stance, gesture and tone mean so much.

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  3. Fine and thoughtful quotes. I tried to pick out a "favorite", but could NOT!

    My defect in this realm is being judgmental. And SO often...how WRONG I (was) am.

    You sound as if you are respectful of others' beliefs. I'm getting there, ever so slow.

    THANKS and PEACE!

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  4. i say belly buttons too ... instead of the other.

    tolerance is totally cool to me.

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  5. i have many quotes too:this is one of my favourites:
    'never judge a man till you have walked a mile in his moccosins'

    but the one that I have as my mantra nowadays is:
    'thoughts are not facts!'

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  6. Dear Stevie, this is exactly why I missed blogging, post such as these. Wonderful! Enjoyed all the quotes and I truly know what you mean.
    My problem I guess is that I tend to get very passionate about my views and even though I do not try to make people take my stand point, I get very angry (sad, frustrated) when they try to change mine.;)
    Hope you have been well, I am back finally after a great time off.;))
    xoxoxo

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  7. These are all great quotes. You are probably a good debater after all you are "listening".

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  8. I have loved reading blogs as I have learned SO VERY MUCH about how diverse people are in the way they think...now...do I think it is all GOOD...no...but it STRETCHES me and that IS good.

    Great post.
    AGREED!

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  9. I love to discuss and debate, too! Not everyone will do that...which is sad. I think it's so interesting to hear what people think and why they think that way.

    love the quotes! especially the first one.

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  10. Good on you Steviewren. We should all have opinions, and though we shouldn't force them on people we should be willing to share them if invited, don't you think? - Dave

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  11. I have been busy this week, not much computer time! Which is good, because it means I was out of the house! I love the dolls! They are so cute! I love the new look of your "rag dolls". The Alabama White House, is so regal! I have never watched "The Bing Bang Theory". I have to join Net Flex, all the video rental stores have closed in my area! There are a lot of Red Boxes, but I think they just have current videos. I wish I was confident enough to get involved and debate current affairs. I have opionions, I just have difficulty expressing myself. Maybe I should take Cicero's advice and just get my opioions out there!
    denise

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  12. I wish more people understood the difference between FACTS and OPINIONS

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  13. Aristotle spoke a lot of sense 2,000 years ago and his quote stands the test of time, for me.

    Great post as usual Steviewren - you always manage to give my 'little grey cells' a work-out!

    Jeanne
    x

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  14. Hi Stevie!

    I always try to keep an open mind and listen carefully to all the pros and cons in a discussion. The only way to grow our minds are to stretch them.

    It's good to be back from vacation! I have to now catch up with you :) We had a wonderful time in California and I am still buzzing from all the wine I drank....lol!

    Hope you are enjoying these last days of August!

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  15. I'm all for mind stretching!
    The one thing I had to learn about blog conversations/comments is that the other party can't see the twinkle in my eye..... though I can see the twinkle in your eye in your header Stevie.

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I'm glad you stopped by and I look forward to your comments. As Dr. Fraser Crane would say, "Hello, I'm listening."