Instead of casting away all our old prejudices, we cherish…
“Instead of casting away all our old prejudices, we cherish them to a very considerable degree, and, to take more shame to ourselves, we cherish them because they are prejudices; and the longer they have lasted and the more generally they have prevailed, the more we cherish them. We are afraid to put men to live and trade each on his own private stock of reason; because we suspect that this stock in each man is small, and that the individuals would do better to avail themselves of the general bank and capital of nations and of ages.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Longstanding biases are valued because they seem entrenched; yet reliance on collective wisdom may limit individual reason.
In simple terms: We cling to old prejudices; think shared knowledge is safer.
Key Takeaway
Balance respect for tradition with critical thinking.
Themes
tradition
prejudice
collective wisdom
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- policy making
- education reform
- public discourse
- civic engagement
Key Concepts
political theory
social psychology
history
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we hold onto outdated beliefs?
- When is collective wisdom more reliable than individual reason?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on tradition can stifle progress.