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OT: quotation of Stuart Chase

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Howard Duck

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Dec 18, 2009, 2:16:01 AM12/18/09
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Stuart Chase was an American accountant and economist whose definitive
work was expressed in the book, The Tragedy of Waste, 1925.

A statement by Chase which was quoted in "Criminal Minds":
"For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't
believe, no proof is possible."
I think that is a succinct statement of a profound truth.

It reminds me of a statement made by Jesus in Luke 16:31 -
"And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
--
Howard Duck

Chris F.A. Johnson

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Dec 18, 2009, 10:26:33 AM12/18/09
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On 2009-12-18, Howard Duck wrote:
> Stuart Chase was an American accountant and economist whose definitive
> work was expressed in the book, The Tragedy of Waste, 1925.
>
> A statement by Chase which was quoted in "Criminal Minds":
> "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't
> believe, no proof is possible."
> I think that is a succinct statement of a profound truth.

I think that is the cop-out of someone who cannot present a
cohesive argument.

--
Chris F.A. Johnson <http://cfajohnson.com>
Author: =======================
Pro Bash Programming: Scripting the GNU/Linux Shell (2009, Apress)
Shell Scripting Recipes: A Problem-Solution Approach (2005, Apress)

Howard Duck

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Dec 18, 2009, 5:20:40 PM12/18/09
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On 18 Dec 2009 15:26:33 GMT, "Chris F.A. Johnson"
<cfajo...@gmail.com> wrote:

> On 2009-12-18, Howard Duck wrote:
> > Stuart Chase was an American accountant and economist whose definitive
> > work was expressed in the book, The Tragedy of Waste, 1925.
> >
> > A statement by Chase which was quoted in "Criminal Minds":
> > "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't
> > believe, no proof is possible."
> > I think that is a succinct statement of a profound truth.
>
> I think that is the cop-out of someone who cannot present a
> cohesive argument.

What he is saying is not an argument. He is merely presenting a fact
of two contrary natures - believers and non believers. The one accept
on faith a principle that cannot be proven whereas the other cannot be
convinced of a spiritually revealed truth regardless of any proof.
That seems to be the nature of two mindsets.
--
Howard

Chris F.A. Johnson

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Dec 19, 2009, 12:14:50 AM12/19/09
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On 2009-12-18, Howard Duck wrote:
> On 18 Dec 2009 15:26:33 GMT, "Chris F.A. Johnson"
><cfajo...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On 2009-12-18, Howard Duck wrote:
>> > Stuart Chase was an American accountant and economist whose definitive
>> > work was expressed in the book, The Tragedy of Waste, 1925.
>> >
>> > A statement by Chase which was quoted in "Criminal Minds":
>> > "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't
>> > believe, no proof is possible."
>> > I think that is a succinct statement of a profound truth.
>>
>> I think that is the cop-out of someone who cannot present a
>> cohesive argument.
>
> What he is saying is not an argument.

Very true!

> He is merely presenting a fact of two contrary natures - believers
> and non believers. The one accept on faith a principle that cannot
> be proven whereas the other cannot be convinced of a spiritually
> revealed truth regardless of any proof. That seems to be the nature
> of two mindsets.

Yes, the rational versus the delusional.

K Barrett

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Dec 19, 2009, 1:15:01 PM12/19/09
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[snip]

>>> On 2009-12-18, Howard Duck wrote:
>>>> A statement by Chase which was quoted in "Criminal Minds":
>>>> "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't
>>>> believe, no proof is possible."

[snip] I've often wondered where they get these quotes. I envision a
little Hollywood office the size of a closet with a gnomelike figure
parceling out quotations, both real and imagined. 'Nono, Cameron
optioned all the Pepys quotes, you'll have to make do with Johnson.'

K Barrett

Howard Duck

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Dec 19, 2009, 8:39:39 PM12/19/09
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On Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:15:01 -0800, K Barrett <morm...@hotmail.com>
wrote:

This is a real one. See:

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/s/stuartchas162978.html
or
http://tinyurl.com/y9ncxu7
--
Howard

Francis A. Miniter

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Dec 19, 2009, 8:50:00 PM12/19/09
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I just came across a similar quote from the book I am
reading, *The Testament of Gideon Mack* by James Robertson
(Penguin 2004). Actually, though I have not yet finished
it, I am sufficiently far along (80%) that I can commend it
to you, Howard. I do think you would find it enjoyable.

What the quote does argue for is occupation of the gray area
between the two extremes - doubt.

--
Francis A. Miniter

Oscuramente
libros, laminas, llaves
siguen mi suerte.

Jorge Luis Borges, La Cifra Haiku, 6

Howard Duck

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Dec 19, 2009, 11:22:03 PM12/19/09
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On Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:50:00 -0500, "Francis A. Miniter"
<fami...@comcast.net> wrote:

> I just came across a similar quote from the book I am
> reading, *The Testament of Gideon Mack* by James Robertson
> (Penguin 2004). Actually, though I have not yet finished
> it, I am sufficiently far along (80%) that I can commend it
> to you, Howard. I do think you would find it enjoyable.
>
> What the quote does argue for is occupation of the gray area
> between the two extremes - doubt.
>
> --
> Francis A. Miniter

Thanks Francis. I'll be sure to check that out.
--
Howard

family

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Dec 22, 2009, 7:40:17 PM12/22/09
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"Howard Duck" <hbd...@geusnet.com> wrote in message
news:4aami59dgupino3qf...@4ax.com...


This question was brought up at our Church's Bible Study Class,
"Do you believe because you understand,
or do you understand because you believe?"

There is a world of difference between those two questions!


Francis A. Miniter

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Dec 22, 2009, 7:55:39 PM12/22/09
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Socrates poses a similar question in one of the dialogues
(Crito, maybe): Is something good because the gods love it,
or do the gods love it because it is good. It works the
same for a monotheistic world. The issue is which is more
primordial - divinity or the nature of goodness. In an
atheistic world, there is only the nature of goodness.

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