What plays the mischief with the truth is that men will…
“What plays the mischief with the truth is that men will insist upon the universal application of a temporary feeling or opinion.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He notes that people treat fleeting emotions as universal truths, revealing a cognitive bias toward overgeneralization.
In simple terms: People treat temporary feelings as universal truths.
Question the universality of emotions.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- media analysis
- personal relationships
- public discourse
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify a feeling’s universality?
- What safeguards prevent bias?
Overgeneralization can mislead decisions.