The great mistake of contemporary life is that we have…
““The great mistake of contemporary life is that we have made such a virtue of intellectual growth while almost totally ignoring the necessity of conscience growth. We have failed to understand that individual evolution can take place not only in mental but in moral power. The earth tragically today is full of people who remain fixated on a childish level of conscience. What an illusion has blinded the human race: that our conscience is given to us once and for all at birth and we ourselves have to do little or nothing about it…The truth is that our moral capacity is purely potential and needs strenuous training, education and development. It is certainly not an organic power that comes to us at birth, like breathing, which demands little attention from us as long as we live…A revolution has to take place in our thinking about morality. We have to become as sensitive about being moral morons as we are now anxious about being intellectual idiots.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Moral development is neglected in favor of intellectual growth, yet conscience can be trained like a muscle.
In simple terms: We must train morality, not just intellect.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate moral habits daily.
Themes
morality
intellectualism
personal growth
education
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- school curricula
- parental guidance
- self‑reflection workshops
- corporate ethics programs
Key Concepts
potential
conscience development
ethical training
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you practice moral discipline today?
- What habits nurture ethical awareness?
A Different Perspective
Moral growth requires sustained effort and may conflict with comfort zones.