--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tolerance of intolerance is cowardice." description: "\"Tolerance of intolerance is cowardice.\" — Ayaan Hirsi Ali" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d4/ayaan-hirsi-ali-2858_cowardice_tolerance-of-intolerance-is-cowardice-16_1611275.jpg" --- # Tolerance of intolerance is cowardice. ![“Tolerance of intolerance is cowardice.” quote by Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d4/ayaan-hirsi-ali-2858_cowardice_tolerance-of-intolerance-is-cowardice-16_1611275.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d4/ayaan-hirsi-ali-2858_cowardice_tolerance-of-intolerance-is-cowardice-16_1611275.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d4/ayaan-hirsi-ali-2858_cowardice_tolerance-of-intolerance-is-cowardice-16_1611275.jpg) > “Tolerance of intolerance is cowardice.” [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Claiming tolerance for intolerance is itself an act of cowardice. **In simple terms:** Accepting intolerance is cowardly. Key Takeaway Stand against harmful ideas boldly. Themes tolerance intolerance courage speech ethical stance Mood critical provocative Type political philosophical When to use this quote - public debate - policy making - education on critical thinking Key Concepts moral philosophy free speech limits social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - When does tolerance become complicity? - How can societies confront intolerance without silencing dissent? A Different Perspective Balancing free speech with protecting vulnerable groups is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cowardice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Intolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intolerance/) [Tolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerance/) ## Related quotes > [“Tolerance or intolerance can be attributed as the single most important factor in understanding the psychology of any society, viz. a viz., its attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-ashok-anand-2/tolerance-or-intolerance-can-be-attributed-as-the-single-most/) [Dr.Ashok Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-ashok-anand-2/) > [There is no other subject on which the average mind is so much confused as the subject of tolerance and intolerance... Tolerance applies only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/there-is-no-other-subject-on-which-the-average-mind-is-so-much/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Neither tolerance nor intolerance is grounded in science and reason, but they are themselves acts of faith grounded in social custom and the politics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-money/neither-tolerance-nor-intolerance-is-grounded-in-science-and-reason/) [John Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-money/) > [You can't reduce a country to its tolerance or intolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conchita-wurst/you-can-t-reduce-a-country-to-its-tolerance-or-intolerance/) [Conchita Wurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conchita-wurst/) > [Tolerance for intolerance is not tolerance at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bawer/tolerance-for-intolerance-is-not-tolerance-at-all/) [Bruce Bawer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bawer/) > [“...not simple intolerance but the tolerance of intolerance, which allows the intolerance to persist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/not-simple-intolerance-but-the-tolerance-of-intolerance-which-allows/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Intolerance has been the curse of our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-larkin/intolerance-has-been-the-curse-of-our-country/) [James Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-larkin/) > [“These days, though, tolerance means that you accept the other person's views as being true or legitimate. If you claim that someone is wrong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/these-days-though-tolerance-means-that-you-accept-the-other-person-s/) [Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/) > [Let us develop respect for all living things. Let us try to replace violence and intolerance with understanding and compassion. And love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/let-us-develop-respect-for-all-living-things-let-us-try-to-replace/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [Intolerance is the most socially acceptable form of egotism, for it permits us to assume superiority without personal boasting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/intolerance-is-the-most-socially-acceptable-form-of-egotism-for-it/) [Sydney J. 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A child, any child, growing up, discovering herself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-o-neill/people-thought-tolerance-was-the-opposite-of-intolerance-whereas-in/) [Jamie O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-o-neill/) > [Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/intolerance-is-itself-a-form-of-violence-and-an-obstacle-to-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I resolutely believe that respect for diversity is a fundamental pillar in the eradication of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. There is no excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-resolutely-believe-that-respect-for-diversity-is-a-fundamental/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) ## More by Ayaan Hirsi Ali > [Women covering their heads is traditional, but now we're seeing more and more women covering themselves from head to toe. 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I support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/i-am-not-against-migration-it-is-simply-pragmatic-to-restrict/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) > [I confront the European elite's self-image as tolerant 'while under their noses women are living like slaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/i-confront-the-european-elite-s-self-image-as-tolerant-while-under/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) > [What matters is abuse, and how it is anchored in a religion that denies women their rights as humans. 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With age comes caution, which is another name for cowardice… Whatever else you do in life, don't cultivate a conscience. Without… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesketh-pearson/d-on-t-grow-old-with-age-comes-caution-which-is-another-name-for/) [Hesketh Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesketh-pearson/) > [Heckling is an act of cowardice. If you want to speak, get up in front of the microphone and speak, don't sit in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/heckling-is-an-act-of-cowardice-if-you-want-to-speak-get-up-in-front/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [“To stand at the very moment when all seems lost is the point of insanity for the coward, but it is the home of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-stand-at-the-very-moment-when-all-seems-lost-is-the-point-of/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [The biggest obstacles to our progress exist within our own lives in the form of cowardice and the tendency to give up. Breaking through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/the-biggest-obstacles-to-our-progress-exist-within-our-own-lives-in/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [“I once knew a man who was heir to the throne of a great kingdom, he lived as a ranger and fought his destiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/i-once-knew-a-man-who-was-heir-to-the-throne-of-a-great-kingdom-he/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [Is there cowardice with the acknowledgement of fear?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/is-there-cowardice-with-the-acknowledgement-of-fear/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Man alone mesures time. And because of this, man alone suffers a paralyzing fear that no other creature endures. A fear of time running…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/man-alone-mesures-time-and-because-of-this-man-alone-suffers-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [With how many things are we on the brink of becoming acquainted, if cowardice or carelessness did not restrain our inquiries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-how-many-things-are-we-on-the-brink-of-becoming-acquainted-if/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“They are not brave, the days when we are twenty-one. They are full of little cowardices, little fears without foundation, and one is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-du-maurier/they-are-not-brave-the-days-when-we-are-twenty-one-they-are-full-of/) [Daphne du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-du-maurier/) > [Survival, with honor, that outmoded and all-important word, is as difficult as ever and as all-important to a writer. 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