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Bowing down in blind credulity, as is my custom, before…

“Bowing down in blind credulity, as is my custom, before mere authority and the tradition of the elders, superstitiously swallowing a story I could not test at the time by experiment or private judgment, I am firmly of the opinion that I was born on the 29th of May, 1874, on Campden Hill…” quote by Gilbert K. Chesterton
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“Bowing down in blind credulity, as is my custom, before mere authority and the tradition of the elders, superstitiously swallowing a story I could not test at the time by experiment or private judgment, I am firmly of the opinion that I was born on the 29th of May, 1874, on Campden Hill, Kensington; and baptised according to the formularies of the Church of England in the little church of St. George opposite the large Waterworks Tower that dominated that ridge.”

Gilbert K. Chesterton

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Blindly accepting tradition without testing it limits personal growth and understanding.

In simple terms: Accepting authority without questioning hinders learning.

Key Takeaway

Question authority and seek personal evidence.

Themes

critical thinking tradition authority skepticism

Mood

reflective inquisitive

Type

philosophical critical

When to use this quote

  • personal decision
  • education
  • religious practice
  • historical research

Key Concepts

Epistemology social conformity identity formation

Questions to Reflect On

  • What traditions have you accepted without scrutiny?
  • How can you test long-held beliefs?
A Different Perspective

Blind faith can lead to misinformation and missed opportunities.

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