--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Intolerance is natural and logical, for…" description: "\"Intolerance is natural and logical, for in every dissenting opinion lies an assumption of superior wisdom.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/ambrose-bierce-140_assumption_intolerance-is-natural-and-logical-for-i_1017662.jpg" --- # Intolerance is natural and logical, for in every… ![“Intolerance is natural and logical, for in every dissenting opinion lies an assumption of superior wisdom.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/ambrose-bierce-140_assumption_intolerance-is-natural-and-logical-for-i_1017662.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/ambrose-bierce-140_assumption_intolerance-is-natural-and-logical-for-i_1017662.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/ambrose-bierce-140_assumption_intolerance-is-natural-and-logical-for-i_1017662.jpg) > “Intolerance is natural and logical, for in every dissenting opinion lies an assumption of superior wisdom.” [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intolerance stems from assuming one's own view is superior, which seems logical but is flawed. **In simple terms:** Intolerance arises from feeling superior. Key Takeaway Cultivate humility and open‑mindedness. Themes intolerance logic superiority Mood skeptical thoughtful Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - debates - team meetings - family discussions - public forums Key Concepts cognitive bias epistemic arrogance Questions to Reflect On - How does superiority bias affect decision making? - What practices foster genuine openness? A Different Perspective Assuming superiority can blind us to truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumption/) [Dissenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dissenting-633764/) [Intolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intolerance/) [Intolerance Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intolerance-natural-2248184/) [Logical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/logical/) [Logical Dissenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/logical-dissenting-2248183/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Superior Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superior-wisdom-1666596/) [Superiors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superiors/) [Tolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerance/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“There, at her console, he dialed 594: pleased acknowledgement of husband's superior wisdom in all matters”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/there-at-her-console-he-dialed-594-pleased-acknowledgement-of-husband/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [The weak have remedies, the wise have joys; superior wisdom is superior bliss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/the-weak-have-remedies-the-wise-have-joys-superior-wisdom-is-superior/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [We must abandon the prevalent belief in the superior wisdom of the ignorant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/we-must-abandon-the-prevalent-belief-in-the-superior-wisdom-of-the/) [Daniel J. 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And sometimes one must be forceful about saying how wrong the Court's decision is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/my-dissenting-opinions-like-my-briefs-are-intended-to-persuade-and/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We need dissenting opinions, and we need people who aren't afraid to share them. The Biden administration doesn't want this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mast/we-need-dissenting-opinions-and-we-need-people-who-aren-t-afraid-to/) [Brian Mast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mast/) > [Dissenting opinions are useful even when they're wrong. So instead of speaking to highly agreeable audiences, target suggestions to people with a history of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-grant/dissenting-opinions-are-useful-even-when-they-re-wrong-so-instead-of/) [Adam Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-grant/) > [He's never quite got the trick of conversation, tending to hear in dissenting views, however mild, a kind of affront, an invitation to mortal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/he-s-never-quite-got-the-trick-of-conversation-tending-to-hear-in/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More Assumption quotes > [Next to the assumption of power was the responsibility of relinquishing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/next-to-the-assumption-of-power-was-the-responsibility-of/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [It's difficult for people to come to the understanding that only a small minority of the people ever really get the word about life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/it-s-difficult-for-people-to-come-to-the-understanding-that-only-a/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [Much like teaching art to young art students age 10 to 15 or so on, you have to break it down into bite-sized pieces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/much-like-teaching-art-to-young-art-students-age-10-to-15-or-so-on/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [Neither novels or their readers benefit from any attempts to divine whether any facts hide inside a story. 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