Upon the whole, I am inclined to think that the far…
“Upon the whole, I am inclined to think that the far greater part, if not all, of those difficulties which have hitherto amused philosophers, and blocked up the way to knowledge, are entirely owing to our selves. That we have first raised a dust, and then complain, we cannot see.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human self‑inflicted obstacles hinder progress; we create problems and then blame them, preventing understanding.
In simple terms: We block our own path by blaming ourselves.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and remove self‑created barriers.
Themes
self‑sabotage
knowledge
philosophy
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
advice
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- academic research
- conflict resolution
- policy making
Key Concepts
epistemology
human nature
cognitive bias
Questions to Reflect On
- What obstacles have you created yourself?
- How can you shift from blame to solution?
A Different Perspective
Self‑blame can ignore external factors and oversimplify complex issues.