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If we like a man's dream, we call him a reformer; if we…

“If we like a man's dream, we call him a reformer; if we don't like his dream, we call him a crank.” quote by William Dean Howells
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“If we like a man's dream, we call him a reformer; if we don't like his dream, we call him a crank.”

William Dean Howells

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Societal acceptance of ideas depends on personal bias toward the dreamer, not the idea itself.

In simple terms: People label ideas based on who proposes them.

Key Takeaway

Judge ideas, not the proposer.

Themes

bias perception ideas

Mood

critical analytical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • politics
  • innovation
  • social movements

Key Concepts

sociology cognitive bias

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you assess an idea's merit?
  • Can you separate the messenger from the message?
A Different Perspective

Even neutral ideas can be dismissed due to prejudice.

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