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The great sickness and the grievous evil consist in this…

“The great sickness and the grievous evil consist in this: that all the things that man finds written in books, he presumes to think of as true-and all the more so if the books are old.” quote by Maimonides
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“The great sickness and the grievous evil consist in this: that all the things that man finds written in books, he presumes to think of as true-and all the more so if the books are old.”

Maimonides

About This Quote

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

Blind trust in ancient texts can hinder critical thinking.

In simple terms: Question old sources.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate skeptical inquiry.

Themes

philosophy critical thinking tradition

Mood

reflective inquisitive

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • Academic research
  • education
  • policy making
  • personal belief systems

Key Concepts

Epistemology authority bias

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you verify the truth of old writings?
  • When should tradition be challenged?
A Different Perspective

Old texts may contain valuable insights despite their age.

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