We are incredibly heedless in the formation of our beliefs, but if someone tries to take them from us, we defend them with almost an illicit passion.

We continue to think of new things in old ways.

Curiosity is idle only to those who fail to realize that it may be a very rare and indispensable thing.

Our goal, simply stated, is to be the best.

Most of our so-called reasoning consists in finding arguments for going on believing as we already do.

We are incredibly heedless in the formation of our beliefs, but find ourselves filled with an illicit passion for them when anyone proposes to rob us of their companionship. It is obviously not the ideas themselves that are dear to us, but our self-esteem, which is threatened.

Rationalizing is the self-exculpation which occurs when we feel ourselves, or our group, accused of misapprehension or error.