It was a reaction I learned from my father: have no respect whatsoever for authority; forget who said it and instead look at what he starts with, where he ends up, and ask yourself, Is it reasonable?
Feynman argues that a claim should be judged by the reasoning and evidence behind it rather than by the status of the person making it. His emphasis is on tracing an argument from its assumptions to its conclusions and asking whether each step is reasonable. Authority, reputation or professional standing should not substitute for examining the substance of a claim.
The remark reflects a broader commitment to independent judgement and critical inquiry. Feynman’s phrase about having “no respect whatsoever for authority” is best understood as a warning against accepting ideas merely because they come from respected figures, rather than as a rejection of expertise itself. Expertise can provide valuable knowledge, but its conclusions remain open to examination. The quotation therefore encourages people to separate a speaker’s credentials from the quality of their argument and to evaluate claims according to evidence, logic and consistency.