"DonÂ ’ t expect the recent retractions and exonerations to change that . One of the strongest , most-repeated findings in the psychology of belief is that once people have been told X , especially if X is shocking , if they are later told , Â “ No , we were wrong about X , Â ” most people still believe X . As Twain and Churchill knew , sometimes the truth never catches up with the lie , let alone overtakes it . As I wrote last summer in a story about why people believe lies even when theyÂ ’ re later told the truth , sometimes peopleÂ ’ s mental processes simply go off the rails ."
"Absolutely true ! I discovered that with my fluoride research ... For whatever reason , most people take another 's word for what the truth actually is instead of searching for it themselves . If the lie is an easier pill to swallow than the truth pill , they 'll take the lie ."
"sometimes the truth never catches up with the lie , let alone overtakes it"
"Absolutely true ! I discovered that with my fluoride research"