Origin of "contempt prior to investigation"

Posted by Michael StG on March 13, 2005

Greetings,

I spent the last 18 months researching this famous quotation which is widely attributed to Herbert Spencer:

"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."

I found this phrases site several months ago, and hoped to come back someday with an answer.

I have discovered its origin and have authored a rather lengthy paper which can be viewed at:

http://www.geocities.com/fitquotation/index.htm

:Michael

• Re: Origin of "contempt prior to investigation" Smokey Stover 14/March/05