My own opinion is enough for me. And I claim the right to…
“My own opinion is enough for me. And I claim the right to defend it against any consensus, any majority anywhere, any place, any time. And anyone who disagrees with this can pick a number, get in line and kiss my ass.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: God Is Not Great, Christopher Hitchens, 2007
The speaker asserts personal opinion as sufficient and dismisses consensus, demanding deference to his stance.
In simple terms: Personal belief outweighs majority opinion.
Key Takeaway
Respect dialogue, not dominance.
Themes
individualism
skepticism
argumentation
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
controversial
When to use this quote
- debate forums
- online discussions
- academic discourse
- political activism
Key Concepts
epistemic authority
rhetorical aggression
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you handle disagreements constructively?
- When is consensus valuable?
A Different Perspective
Dismissal of consensus can ignore valuable evidence.