Charlatanism Quotes

“The study of theology, as it stands in Christian churches, is the study of nothing; it is founded on nothing; it rests on no principles; it proceeds by no authorities; it has no data; it can demonstrate nothing; and it admits of no conclusion. Not anything can be studied as a science, without our being in possession of the principles upon which it is founded; and as this is the case with Christian theology, it is therefore the study of nothing.”
― Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason

“He was scrupulous about the use of his title because, his investigations being so utterly unscientific, he hoped to borrow an air of respectability, even scholarly authority, from his education.”
― Shirley Jackson, The Haunting of Hill House

“A silver-tongued charlatan and a half-wit society are made for each other! When these two come together in an election, a great disaster happens: Charlatan comes to power!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan

“It was inevitable, as soon as legends of miracles became attached to the names of the great mystics, that the credulous masses should applaud imposture more than true devotion; the cult of the saints, against which orthodox Islam ineffectually protested, promoted ignorance and superstition, and confounded charlatanry with lofty speculation. To live scandalously, to act impudently, to speak unintelligibly—this was the easy highroad to fame, wealth, and power.”
― A.J. Arberry, Sufism: An Account of the Mystics of Islam

“Esses crentes chegam muito falantes, enfiados em ternos, a gravata apertando o gogó, o cabelo na risca do pente. Mas só de olhar para os pés a gente já sabe do que se trata. Antes de falar em Deus, falam no dízimo, antes de falar em Cristo, falam no diabo. Já viu como o diabo não sai da boca desse gente? Não têm caridade, só interesse. Caixeiros-viajantes.”
― Micheliny Verunschk, Caminhando com os Mortos

“Thought involves a little charlatanism.”
― Julien Torma, 4 Dada Suicides: Selected Texts of Arthur Cravan, Jacques Rigaut, Julien Torma & Jacques Vaché

“Well, this is only a story, isn't it? I mean, our patrons, anyone who comes to this park, are they going to take this to heart, Mister Shake?'

They'll take what pieces they want, and everything gets a little skewed. That's how these things work, Freddy. Who knows? In ten years' time, Elijah Zallman Ickack may see through walls. Once in the park, they're locked into some idea of what made it, and that's the thing. In the meantime, the long-lost-nephew must have something to say.”
― Pam Jones, The Biggest Little Bird

“Faith in miracles took the place of science, just as faith in social transformations moved the leaders of the new society. That is why those leaders eagerly welcomed every prophecy of Lysenko's. Like addicts who realize the harm of their addiction yet still pursue the narcotic, these leaders recognized the deception yet wanted to be deceived. When the promised miracles failed, the Lysenkoists did not turn back to science; instead, they drew up even more unreal plans, issued even more glowing reports, and so it went in a dizzying spiral.”
― Valery N. Soyfer, Lysenko and the Tragedy of Soviet Science