Healthy skepticism

[Fred Shapiro]

On Fri, 3 Oct 2003, Paul McFedries wrote:

> Does anyone know when the phrase "healthy skepticism" (or "healthy
> scepticism") first entered the language? Lexis has a New York Times cite
> from 1973, but I imagine it's quite a bit older than that.

Here's a still earlier one:

1876 William Elliot Griffis _The Mikado's Empire_ 83  Under their
influence, and that of circumstances, have been shaped the unique ideals
of the samurai; and by it a healthy skepticism, amidst dense superstition,
has been maintained.

Fred Shapiro


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