One can be certain that every generally held idea, every…
““One can be certain that every generally held idea, every received notion, will be an idiocy, because it has been able to appeal to a majority,’ observed Chamfort, adding that what is flatteringly called common sense is usually little short of common nonsense, suffering as it does from simplification and illogicality, prejudice and shallowness: ‘The most absurd customs and the most ridiculous ceremonies are everywhere excused by an appeal to the phrase, but that’s the tradition. This is exactly what the Hottentots say when Europeans ask them why they eat grasshoppers and devour their body lice. That’s the tradition, they explain.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Commonly accepted ideas often become idiocy because they are simplified, prejudiced, and shallow, relying on tradition rather than critical thought.
In simple terms: Popular ideas can be foolish when unexamined.
Key Takeaway
Question tradition and think critically.
Themes
tradition
critical thinking
conformity
prejudice
simplification
Mood
skeptical
reflective
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- debates
- education
- policy making
- media analysis
- personal decision making
Key Concepts
social psychology
cognitive bias
cultural relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you distinguish useful tradition from harmful superstition?
- When should you challenge popular belief?
A Different Perspective
Tradition can preserve useful knowledge, so not all customs are irrational.