--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is nothing so wrong as accepting a…" description: "\"There is nothing so wrong as accepting a thing merely because men who have done things say it should be so.\" — Alfred Stieglitz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/100/alfred-stieglitz-13773_accepting_there-is-nothing-so-wrong-as-accepting-a_2800631.jpg" --- # There is nothing so wrong as accepting a thing merely… ![“There is nothing so wrong as accepting a thing merely because men who have done things say it should be so.” quote by Alfred Stieglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/100/alfred-stieglitz-13773_accepting_there-is-nothing-so-wrong-as-accepting-a_2800631.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/100/alfred-stieglitz-13773_accepting_there-is-nothing-so-wrong-as-accepting-a_2800631.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/100/alfred-stieglitz-13773_accepting_there-is-nothing-so-wrong-as-accepting-a_2800631.jpg) > “There is nothing so wrong as accepting a thing merely because men who have done things say it should be so.” [Alfred Stieglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-stieglitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Blindly following authority leads to error; critical thinking is essential. **In simple terms:** Question authority, think for yourself. Key Takeaway Challenge assumptions. Themes critical thinking authority independence Mood reflective skeptical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - workplace decisions - political discourse Key Concepts philosophy skepticism Questions to Reflect On - When have you accepted a view without evidence? - How do you verify a claim? A Different Perspective Authority can be useful when expertise is proven. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Accepting Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting-thing-3447544/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-things-624758/) [Merely Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merely-men-3447545/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Wrong Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-accepting-3447546/) ## Related quotes > [Experience is merely the name men gave to their mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/experience-is-merely-the-name-men-gave-to-their-mistakes/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Experience was of no ethical value. It was merely the name men gave to their mistakes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/experience-was-of-no-ethical-value-it-was-merely-the-name-men-gave-to-2/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [We are not naïve enough to ask for pure men; we ask merely for men whose impurity does not conflict with the obligations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/we-are-not-na-ve-enough-to-ask-for-pure-men-we-ask-merely-for-men/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [Men who do things without being told draw the most wages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/men-who-do-things-without-being-told-draw-the-most-wages/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [The inspiration of a noble cause enables men to do things they did not dream themselves capable of before](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-chamberlain/the-inspiration-of-a-noble-cause-enables-men-to-do-things-they-did/) [Joshua Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-chamberlain/) > [Some men see things as they are, and say why. I dream of things that never were, and say why not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-men-see-things-as-they-are-and-say-why-i-dream-of-things-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I do not know at first what it is that harms me. The men and things of to-day are wont to be fairer and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-do-not-know-at-first-what-it-is-that-harms-me-the-men-and-things-of/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I don't know why women want any of the things men have when one the things that women have is men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-chanel/i-don-t-know-why-women-want-any-of-the-things-men-have-when-one-the/) [Coco Chanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-chanel/) > [Though reading and conversation may furnish us with many ideas of men and things, yet it is our own meditation must form our judgment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/though-reading-and-conversation-may-furnish-us-with-many-ideas-of-men/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [Great as heaven and earth are, men still find some things in them with which to be dissatisfied. Thus it is that, were the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/great-as-heaven-and-earth-are-men-still-find-some-things-in-them-with/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [“It doesn't take great men to do things, but it is doing things that makes men great.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-glasgow/it-doesn-t-take-great-men-to-do-things-but-it-is-doing-things-that/) [Arnold Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-glasgow/) > [Men measure not only other men, but all other things, by themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/men-measure-not-only-other-men-but-all-other-things-by-themselves/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [Men cry because things are not what they ought to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/men-cry-because-things-are-not-what-they-ought-to-be/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“Some men see things as they are, and say, ‘Why?’ I dream of things that never were, and say, ‘Why not?’” —GEORGE BERNARD SHAW”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-robbins/some-men-see-things-as-they-are-and-say-why-i-dream-of-things-that-2/) [Anthony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-robbins/) > [But I like the feel of men on things, while they're alive. There's a feel of men about trucks, because they've been handled with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/but-i-like-the-feel-of-men-on-things-while-they-re-alive-there-s-a/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) ## More by Alfred Stieglitz > [The ability to make a truly artistic photograph is not acquired off-hand, but is the result of an artistic instinct coupled with years of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-stieglitz/the-ability-to-make-a-truly-artistic-photograph-is-not-acquired-off/) [Alfred Stieglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-stieglitz/) > [I have all but killed myself for Photography. My passion for it is greater than ever. It's forty years that I have fought its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-stieglitz/i-have-all-but-killed-myself-for-photography-my-passion-for-it-is/) [Alfred Stieglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-stieglitz/) > [If you can imagine photography in the guise of a woman and you’d ask her what she thought of Stieglitz, she’d say: He always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-stieglitz/if-you-can-imagine-photography-in-the-guise-of-a-woman-and-you-d-ask/) [Alfred Stieglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-stieglitz/) > [Everything is relative except relatives, and they are absolute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-stieglitz/everything-is-relative-except-relatives-and-they-are-absolute/) [Alfred Stieglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-stieglitz/) > [ A woman artist could be one of those intuitive geniuses \[who\] have kept their childlike spirit and have added to it breadth of vision… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-stieglitz/a-woman-artist-could-be-one-of-those-intuitive-geniuses-who-have-kept/) [Alfred Stieglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-stieglitz/) > [Before the people at large, and for that matter, the artists themselves, understand what photography really means, as I understand that term, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-stieglitz/before-the-people-at-large-and-for-that-matter-the-artists-themselves/) [Alfred Stieglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-stieglitz/) > [I was sad to leave Europe in 1890, after my student days in Germany... But then, once back in New York, I experienced an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-stieglitz/i-was-sad-to-leave-europe-in-1890-after-my-student-days-in-germany/) [Alfred Stieglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-stieglitz/) > [Photographers must learn not to be ashamed to have their photographs look like photographs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-stieglitz/photographers-must-learn-not-to-be-ashamed-to-have-their-photographs/) [Alfred Stieglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-stieglitz/) > [As a matter of fact, nearly all the greatest work is being, and has always been done, by those who are following photography for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-stieglitz/as-a-matter-of-fact-nearly-all-the-greatest-work-is-being-and-has/) [Alfred Stieglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-stieglitz/) > [The goal of art was the vital expression of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-stieglitz/the-goal-of-art-was-the-vital-expression-of-self/) [Alfred Stieglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-stieglitz/) > [“Photography is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-stieglitz/photography-is-a-reality-so-subtle-that-it-becomes-more-real-than/) [Alfred Stieglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-stieglitz/) > [Photography my passion, the search for truth, my obsession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-stieglitz/photography-my-passion-the-search-for-truth-my-obsession/) [Alfred Stieglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-stieglitz/) > [My cloud photographs are equivalents of my most profound life experiences, my basic philosophy of life. All art is an equivalent of the artist’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-stieglitz/my-cloud-photographs-are-equivalents-of-my-most-profound-life/) [Alfred Stieglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-stieglitz/) > [Photography as a fad is well-nigh on its last legs, thanks principally to the bicycle craze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-stieglitz/photography-as-a-fad-is-well-nigh-on-its-last-legs-thanks-principally/) [Alfred Stieglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-stieglitz/) > [Wherever there is light, one can photograph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-stieglitz/wherever-there-is-light-one-can-photograph/) [Alfred Stieglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-stieglitz/) [Explore all 49 Alfred Stieglitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-stieglitz/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is nothing so wrong as accepting a thing merely because men who have done things say it should be so.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alfred Stieglitz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-stieglitz/there-is-nothing-so-wrong-as-accepting-a-thing-merely-because-men-who/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-stieglitz/there-is-nothing-so-wrong-as-accepting-a-thing-merely-because-men-who/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/100/alfred-stieglitz-13773_accepting_there-is-nothing-so-wrong-as-accepting-a_2800631.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/100/alfred-stieglitz-13773_accepting_there-is-nothing-so-wrong-as-accepting-a_2800631.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/100/alfred-stieglitz-13773_accepting_there-is-nothing-so-wrong-as-accepting-a_2800631.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is nothing so wrong as accepting a thing merely because men who have done things say it should be so.” — Alfred Stieglitz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alfred Stieglitz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-stieglitz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is nothing so wrong as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-stieglitz/there-is-nothing-so-wrong-as-accepting-a-thing-merely-because-men-who/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-stieglitz/there-is-nothing-so-wrong-as-accepting-a-thing-merely-because-men-who/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```