The wildest dreams of wild men, even, are not the less…
“The wildest dreams of wild men, even, are not the less true, though they may not recommend themselves to the sense which is most common among Englishmen and Americans to-day. It is not every truth that recommends itself to the common sense. Nature has a place for the wild clematis as well as for the cabbage. Some expressions of truth are reminiscent,--others merely sensible, as the phrase is,--others prophetic.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Unconventional ideas may be true yet ignored; truth isn’t always aligned with common sense.
In simple terms: Truth can be odd and not widely accepted.
Value insights that challenge mainstream views.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- scientific discovery
- artistic expression
- social reform
- personal belief formation
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- When have you trusted an unpopular truth?
- How do you discern valuable unconventional ideas?
Unpopular truths may face resistance and misunderstanding.