Folly, thou conquerest, and I must yield! Against…
“Folly, thou conquerest, and I must yield! Against stupidity the very gods Themselves contend in vain. Exalted reason, Resplendent daughter of the head divine, Wise foundress of the system of the world, Guide of the stars, who are thou then, if thou, Bound to the tail of folly's uncurb'd steed, Must, vainly shrieking, with the drunken crowd, Eyes open, plunge down headlong in the abyss.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Reason and wisdom are eclipsed by folly and collective stupidity.
In simple terms: Folly overwhelms reason.
Key Takeaway
Guard against groupthink.
Themes
reason
folly
human nature
Mood
critical
cautious
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- political debate
- team decision making
- public policy
- media consumption
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
collective intelligence
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you maintain rationality in chaotic groups?
- What safeguards protect reason?
A Different Perspective
Even the wise can be misled by crowds.