Listen!” Pulcheria Alexandrovna interrupted timidly, but…
““Listen!” Pulcheria Alexandrovna interrupted timidly, but it only added fuel to the flames. “What do you think?” shouted Razumihin, louder than ever, “you think I am attacking them for talking nonsense? Not a bit! I like them to talk nonsense. That’s man’s one privilege over all creation. Through error you come to the truth! I am a man because I err! You never reach any truth without making fourteen mistakes and very likely a hundred and fourteen. And a fine thing, too, in its way; but we can’t even make mistakes on our own account! Talk nonsense, but talk your own nonsense, and I’ll kiss you for it. To go wrong in one’s own way is better than to go right in someone else’s. In the first case you are a man, in the second you’re no better than a bird. Truth won’t escape you, but life can be cramped. There have been examples. And what are we doing now? In science, development, thought, invention, ideals, aims, liberalism, judgment, experience and everything, everything, everything, we are still in the preparatory class at school. We prefer to live on other people’s ideas, it’s what we are used to! Am I right, am I right?” cried Razumihin, pressing and shaking the two ladies’ hands.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Mistakes and nonsense are essential for human growth; truth emerges through error, not conformity.
In simple terms: Error leads to truth.
Key Takeaway
Embrace mistakes as learning.
Themes
philosophy
human nature
truth seeking
error tolerance
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- scientific research
- creative writing
- personal development
- ethical decision‑making
Key Concepts
existentialism
epistemology
individualism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do your errors shape your beliefs?
- When is it okay to reject consensus?
A Different Perspective
Blindly following others stifles innovation.