We must face the fact that society is founded on…
![“We must face the fact that society is founded on intolerance. [. . .] We may prate of toleration as we will; but society must always draw a line somewhere between allowable conduct and insanity or crime, in spite of the risk of mistaking sages for lunatics and saviours for blasphemers. We must…” quote by George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/dcb/george-bernard-shaw-68_intolerance_we-must-face-the-fact-that-society-is-fo_2004410.jpg)
““We must face the fact that society is founded on intolerance. [. . .] We may prate of toleration as we will; but society must always draw a line somewhere between allowable conduct and insanity or crime, in spite of the risk of mistaking sages for lunatics and saviours for blasphemers. We must persecute, even to the death; and all we can do to mitigate the danger of persecution is, first, to be very careful what we persecute, and second, to bear in mind that unless there is a large liberty to shock conventional people, and a well informed sense of the value of originality, individuality, and eccentricity, the result will be apparent stagnation covering a repression of evolutionary forces which will eventually explode with extravagant and probably destructive violence.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Society must balance tolerance with limits, avoiding both oppression and chaos, while protecting originality and preventing violent backlash.
In simple terms: Society needs limits on tolerance to protect freedom and prevent violence.
Key Takeaway
Set clear boundaries to protect both liberty and safety.
Themes
tolerance
freedom
societal limits
originality
danger
Mood
thoughtful
concerned
critical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political policy
- legal systems
- education curricula
- media regulation
- community standards
Key Concepts
social contract
ethical boundaries
evolutionary pressure
Questions to Reflect On
- What limits are necessary to protect society without suppressing creativity?
- How can we distinguish harmful actions from eccentricity?
A Different Perspective
Over‑restriction can stifle innovation; under‑restriction can invite chaos.