Definitions HQ

Conviction (n.) shows ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠its real stability not when everyone holds it firm but when everything is in question.

A Conviction (n.) like ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a young girl's that her wish will surely come true is lovable, even wonder-working — but it is not faith, for it never faced the impossible in the pain of resignation.

A Conviction (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠what stops a man from turning topsy-turvy at his pleasure; the intellectual contortionist who can stand on head or feet alike has none.

Conviction (n.) has ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠no place in mathematics, where no disproof is conceivable; it belongs where every proof has its contra, and the convinced person has resolved to rise above the pros and cons.

A Conviction (n.) in ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the absurd should answer its mockers: 'Sir, you are a fool; it is preposterous and remains so, I have weighed the objections better than you — and yet I have chosen the improbable.'