All sentiment is right; because sentiment has a reference…
“All sentiment is right; because sentiment has a reference to nothing beyond itself, and is always real, wherever a man is conscious of it. But all determinations of the understanding are not right; because they have a reference to something beyond themselves, to wit, real matter of fact; and are not always conformable to that standard.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Sentiments are self‑contained truths, while concepts about external facts may be mistaken or incomplete.
In simple terms: Feelings are true by themselves; ideas about reality can be wrong.
Key Takeaway
Trust your inner feelings, but verify external claims.
Themes
philosophy
epistemology
emotion
Mood
critical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- personal decision‑making
- ethical judgments
- scientific inquiry
Key Concepts
subjectivity
truth
knowledge
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you differentiate feeling from fact?
- When should you doubt your intuition?
A Different Perspective
Sentiments can be biased; external verification is necessary for accurate understanding.