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That's the great danger of sectarian opinions, they always…

“That's the great danger of sectarian opinions, they always accept the formulas of past events as useful for the measurement of future events and they never are, if you have high standards of accuracy.” quote by John Dos Passos
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“That's the great danger of sectarian opinions, they always accept the formulas of past events as useful for the measurement of future events and they never are, if you have high standards of accuracy.”

John Dos Passos

About This Quote

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

People cling to past patterns, misusing them to predict the future, which leads to inaccurate judgments.

In simple terms: Relying on old formulas misleads future predictions.

Key Takeaway

Question assumptions before applying them.

Themes

critical thinking history prediction

Mood

skeptical analytical

Type

philosophical cautionary

When to use this quote

  • policy analysis
  • investment decisions
  • academic research
  • personal planning

Key Concepts

cognitive bias historical determinism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you test the relevance of historical models today?
  • What safeguards prevent overreliance on precedent?
A Different Perspective

Past analogies often ignore novel variables.

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