I discourage passive skepticism, which is the armchair variety where people sit back and criticize without ever subjecting their theories or themselves to real field testing.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I encourage active skepticism - when people are being skeptical because they're trying to identify the best course of action. They're trying to identify the next step for themselves or other people.
Skepticism is not a position that you stake out ahead of time and stick to no matter what.
In science, a healthy skepticism is a professional necessity, whereas in religion, having belief without evidence is regarded as a virtue.
I've encountered a lot of people who sound like critics but very few who have substantive criticisms. There is a lot of skepticism, but it seems to be more a matter of inertia than it is of people having some real reason for thinking something else.
Skepticism is the sadism of embittered souls.
Large skepticism leads to large understanding. Small skepticism leads to small understanding. No skepticism leads to no understanding.
Skepticism: the mark and even the pose of the educated mind.
Skepticism, like chastity, should not be relinquished too readily.
Skepticism is the first step on the road to philosophy.
Skeptical scrutiny is the means, in both science and religion, by which deep thoughts can be winnowed from deep nonsense.