"contempt prior to investigation"

Posted by Hadgreeneyes on November 26, 2003

"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance - that principle is contempt prior to investigation."

this quote has been long and widely attributed to herbert spencer, however, no one has been able to confirm it. anyone know if spencer actually made this statement, or something close to it?