No passion is stronger in the breast of man than the…
“No passion is stronger in the breast of man than the desire to make others believe as he believes. Nothing so cuts at the root of his happiness and fills him with rage as the sense that another rates low what he prizes high. Whigs and Tories, Liberal party and Labour party - for what do they battle except their own prestige? It is not love of truth but desire to prevail that sets quarter against quarter and makes subserviency rather than the triumph of truth and the exaltation of virtue - but these moralities belong, and should be left to the historian, since they are as dull as ditch water.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The desire to convince others of one's beliefs can dominate, leading to conflict driven by prestige rather than truth, a struggle best left to historians.
In simple terms: Desire to persuade fuels conflict over truth.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize truth over personal prestige.
Themes
conflict
truth
prestige
politics
history
Mood
critical
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
reflective
When to use this quote
- political debate
- media analysis
- educational curricula
- historical research
Key Concepts
philosophy
political theory
social dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives your need for validation?
- How can we foster truth‑centered discourse?
A Different Perspective
Preoccupation with prestige can eclipse genuine truth‑seeking.