One of the chief obstacles to intelligence is credulity…
“One of the chief obstacles to intelligence is credulity, and credulity could be enormously diminished by instructions as to the prevalent forms of mendacity. Credulity is a greater evil in the present day than it ever was before, because, owing to the growth of education, it is much easier than it used to be to spread misinformation, and, owing to democracy, the spread of misinformation is more important than in former times to the holders of power.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Blind trust makes people vulnerable to falsehoods; education alone cannot protect against deception.
In simple terms: Education without critical thinking leads to gullibility.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate skepticism and learn to spot common lies.
Themes
critical thinking
education
deception
democracy
media literacy
Mood
concerned
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- school curricula
- news consumption
- political discourse
- online platforms
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
misinformation
social influence
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we teach people to recognize common lies?
- What role does democracy play in spreading misinformation?
A Different Perspective
Even educated societies can be misled if they ignore the forms of deceit.