“[R]EASON today is everywhere decried. The ancient process of conviction by argument and proof is replaced by reiterated affirmation; and almost all the terms which were the glory of reason carry with them now an atmosphere of contempt.

“See what has happened for instance to the word ‘logic,’ to the word ‘controversy;’ note how such popular phrases as ‘No one yet was ever convinced by argument,’ or again, ‘Anything may be proved,’ or ‘That may be all right in logic, but in practice it is very different.’ The speech of men is becoming saturated with expressions which everywhere connote contempt for the use of the intelligence.”

— Hilaire Belloc, The Great Heresies (1938)

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