Men of his strength of purpose, and customary sagacity, if…
““Men of his strength of purpose, and customary sagacity, if they chance to adopt a mistaken opinion in practical matters, so wedge it and fasten it among things known to be true, that to wrench it out of their minds is hardly less difficult than pulling up an oak.””
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 mistaken beliefs, embedding them among accepted truths, making them hard to discard.
In simple terms: Wrong ideas become entrenched when tied to known facts.
Key Takeaway
Question and test deeply held assumptions.
Themes
psychology
belief
rigidity
truth
Mood
reflective
skeptical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal decision making
- policy formation
- education
- leadership
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
confirmation bias
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- What beliefs have you accepted without scrutiny?
- How can you safely challenge entrenched ideas?
A Different Perspective
Strong convictions can blind us to better alternatives.