The fear of meeting the opposition of envy, or the…
“The fear of meeting the opposition of envy, or the illiberality of ignorance is, no doubt, the frequent cause of preventing many ingenious men from ushering opinions into the world which deviate from common practice. Hence for want of energy, the young idea is shackled with timidity and a useful thought is buried in the impenetrable gloom of eternal oblivion.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote warns that envy, ignorance, and fear suppress innovative ideas, causing them to remain hidden.
In simple terms: Fear and ignorance kill innovation.
Encourage open dialogue and support new ideas.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- academic research
- entrepreneurship
- artistic endeavors
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we protect novel ideas?
- What role does education play?
Overcoming fear is challenging; societal norms resist change.