Intelligence has no attachment to the opinion it has…
“Intelligence has no attachment to the opinion it has formed, but only to the truth it may contain; and, knowing that error insinuates itself under the guise of truth, through the same inlets by which truth is admitted, it is ever diffident of its att.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The mind should cling to truth, not to preconceived opinions, and must remain skeptical because errors can masquerade as truth.
In simple terms: Seek truth, not comfort.
Question your assumptions constantly.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- academic research
- personal decision making
- media consumption
- political debate
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What beliefs have you held without testing?
- How do you verify information before accepting it?
Human tendency to favor familiar ideas can blind us to error.