There is a commonplace book argument, Which glibly glides…
““There is a commonplace book argument, Which glibly glides from every vulgar tongue When any dare a new light to present: 'If you are right, then everybody's wrong.' Suppose the converse of this precedent So often urged, so loudly and so long: 'If you are wrong, then everybody's right.' Was ever everybody yet so quite?””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage critiques the tendency to claim universal truth by flipping arguments, questioning whether the opposite—if everyone is wrong—has ever truly occurred.
In simple terms: It challenges the idea of absolute correctness versus universal error.
Key Takeaway
Beware absolutist reasoning.
Themes
logic
philosophy
argumentation
truth
relativism
Mood
skeptical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- debates
- academic discourse
- personal belief evaluation
- media analysis
Key Concepts
critical thinking
epistemology
literary criticism
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you ever encounter situations where everyone is wrong?
- How do you handle contradictory truths?
A Different Perspective
Absolute claims often ignore nuance and context.