Good heavens! what a foolish thing is this pretended…
“Good heavens! what a foolish thing is this pretended perfectibility of the human race which is continually being dinned into our ears!”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human pretensions to perfectibility are mocked as futile and imposed upon us.
In simple terms: We are told we can become perfect, but it’s unrealistic.
Key Takeaway
Question humility over false perfection.
Themes
hubris
human nature
illusion
Mood
skeptical
reflective
Type
critical
literary
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- education
- leadership
- self‑assessment
Key Concepts
philosophy
literary criticism
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you chase impossible standards?
- How does humility improve learning?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasizing perfection can hinder progress.