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.”
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.
Judge ideas, not the proposer.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- politics
- innovation
- social movements
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you assess an idea's merit?
- Can you separate the messenger from the message?
Even neutral ideas can be dismissed due to prejudice.