Ordinarily, people are anxious to test their theories in…
““Ordinarily, people are anxious to test their theories in practice, to learn from experience, but those who wield power are so anxious to establish the myth of their own infallibility that they turn back on truth as squarely as they can. Politics mean nothing to me. I don't like people who are indifferent to the truth.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Powerful individuals reject truth to protect their myth of infallibility, while ordinary people seek truth through experience.
In simple terms: Power resists truth; ordinary people test ideas.
Key Takeaway
Value truth over power.
Themes
politics
truth
power dynamics
Mood
critical
defiant
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- activism
- academic research
- personal decision‑making
Key Concepts
myth of infallibility
experiential learning
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you confront power that denies truth?
- What practices keep you grounded in reality?
A Different Perspective
Truth can be suppressed, making honest inquiry risky.