When you are young so many things are difficult to…
“When you are young so many things are difficult to believe, and yet the dullest people will tell you that they are true--such things, for instance, as that the earth goes round the sun, and that it is not flat but round. But the things that seem really likely, like fairy-tales and magic, are, so say the grown-ups, not true at all. Yet they are so easy to believe, especially when you see them happening.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Even obvious truths can be doubted, while fantastical ideas seem plausible, highlighting human bias toward the extraordinary.
In simple terms: People doubt facts but accept myths easily.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions and seek evidence.
Themes
skepticism
belief
bias
truth
myth
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
analytical
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- education
- science communication
- media literacy
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
epistemology
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence convinces you of a fact?
- How do you differentiate myth from reality?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on skepticism can breed cynicism.