In postmodernism we find metaphysical antirealism, epistemological subjectivity, the placing of feeling at the root of all value issues, the consequent relativism of both knowledge and values, and the consequent devaluing or disvaluing of the scientific enterprise.

— Stephen R. C. Hicks, Explaining Postmodernism

Economics teaches you that making a choice means giving up something. And economics can help you appreciate complexity and how seemingly unrelated actions and people can become entangled.

— Russ Roberts, How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life

Great scientists tolerate ambiguity very well. They believe the theory enough to go ahead; they doubt it enough to notice the errors and faults so they can … create [its] replacement. If you believe too much you’ll never notice the flaws; if you doubt too much you won’t get started. It requires a lovely balance.

— Richard Hamming, You and Your Research

The Marxist calls himself scientific and to this claim the Fascist adds another: he is the poet—the scientific poet—of a new mythology.

— Aldous Huxley, Ape and Essence

We do not see intellectual life clearly, because of our devotion to lifestyles rich in material comfort and social superiority. We want the splendor of Socratic thinking without his poverty. We want the thrill of his speaking truth to power without the full absorption in the life of the mind that made it possible. We want the profits of Thales’ stargazing without the ridicule. We want Einstein’s brilliant insights without the humiliation of joblessness followed by years of obscurity working in a patent office. Instead of facing reality head on and making a choice to accept the costs of a certain pursuit as they are, we pretend that there is no need to make a choice.

— Zena Hitz, Lost in Thought