No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to…
““No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its being right; and when he sees it is not so, the prejudice will be gone. We have but a defective idea of what prejudice is. It might be said, that until men think for themselves the whole is prejudice, and not opinion; for that only is opinion which is the result of reason and reflection.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Prejudice stems from unexamined belief; critical thinking replaces it with reasoned opinion.
In simple terms: Prejudice is belief‑driven, not factual.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions to avoid bias.
Themes
critical thinking
bias awareness
rationality
self‑reflection
Mood
inquisitive
challenging
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- debate preparation
- policy analysis
- personal belief revision
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
epistemic humility
Practical Applications
- education
- leadership training
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you differentiate prejudice from opinion?
- What practices help you examine hidden biases?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that prejudice can be instinctual, not merely belief‑based.