Skip to content

No one of us ought to issue vetoes to the other, nor…

“No one of us ought to issue vetoes to the other, nor should we bandy words of abuse. We ought, on the contrary, delicately and profoundly to respect one another's mental freedom: then only shall we bring about the intellectual republic; then only shall we have that spirit of inner tolerance…” quote by William James
Download Open image
““No one of us ought to issue vetoes to the other, nor should we bandy words of abuse. We ought, on the contrary, delicately and profoundly to respect one another's mental freedom: then only shall we bring about the intellectual republic; then only shall we have that spirit of inner tolerance without which all our outer tolerance is soulless,””

William James

About This Quote

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

He argues for respecting each other's mental freedom to build a truly tolerant intellectual society.

In simple terms: Respect mental freedom to foster genuine tolerance.

Key Takeaway

Promote deep respect for differing thoughts.

Themes

tolerance freedom intellectual discourse

Mood

serious thoughtful

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

  • education
  • policy making
  • community dialogue

Key Concepts

philosophy ethics social harmony

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can we balance free thought with social cohesion?
  • What limits exist on mental freedom?
A Different Perspective

Deep respect may clash with conflicting values.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by William James

Explore all 854 William James quotes

More Freedom Shall quotes

Browse all 11 Freedom Shall quotes