--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those who, having opinions which they…" description: "\"“Those who, having opinions which they hold to be immensely important, and the contraries to be prodigiously hurtful, have any deep regard for the gene..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a07/christopher-hitchens-117_quote_those-who-having-opinions-which-they-hol_1097935.jpg" --- # Those who, having opinions which they hold to be immensely… ![“Those who, having opinions which they hold to be immensely important, and the contraries to be prodigiously hurtful, have any deep regard for the general good, will necessarily dislike, as a class and in the abstract, those who think wrong what they think right, and right what they think wrong…” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a07/christopher-hitchens-117_quote_those-who-having-opinions-which-they-hol_1097935.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a07/christopher-hitchens-117_quote_those-who-having-opinions-which-they-hol_1097935.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a07/christopher-hitchens-117_quote_those-who-having-opinions-which-they-hol_1097935.jpg) > ““Those who, having opinions which they hold to be immensely important, and the contraries to be prodigiously hurtful, have any deep regard for the general good, will necessarily dislike, as a class and in the abstract, those who think wrong what they think right, and right what they think wrong: though they need not therefore be, nor was my father, insensible to good qualities in an opponent, nor governed in their estimation of individuals by one general presumption, instead of by the whole of their character. I grant that an earnest person, being no more infallible than other men, is liable to dislike people on account of opinions which do not merit dislike; but if he neither himself does them any ill office, nor connives at its being done by others, he is not intolerant: and the forbearance, which flows from a conscientious sense of the importance to mankind of the equal freedom of all opinions, is the only tolerance which is commendable, or, to the highest moral order of minds, possible.”” [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True tolerance respects differing opinions without hostility, focusing on character rather than isolated views. **In simple terms:** Tolerance means respecting opinions, not just ideas. Key Takeaway Practice character‑based tolerance. Themes tolerance philosophy ethics Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - political discourse - academic debate - personal relationships Key Concepts moral relativism intellectual humility Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle disagreeable opinions? - When is it okay to challenge a view? A Different Perspective Tolerance may conflict with deeply held beliefs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Connives Intolerant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connives-intolerant-2871790/) [Conscientious Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscientious-sense-2871792/) [Dislike People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dislike-people/) [Opinions Tolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinions-tolerance-2871791/) [Qualities Opponent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/qualities-opponent-2871793/) [Tolerance Commendable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerance-commendable-2871794/) ## Related quotes > [“There are plenty of people in the world I don't dislike, some of whom I almost like; on the other hand, I almost hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiromi-kawakami/there-are-plenty-of-people-in-the-world-i-don-t-dislike-some-of-whom/) [Hiromi Kawakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiromi-kawakami/) > [“Ever since I served as an infantryman in the First World War I have had a great dislike of people who, themselves in ease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ever-since-i-served-as-an-infantryman-in-the-first-world-war-i-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I dislike those people that see an opera and say "Oh, they can't act it. They just sing. It's boring." Lean back and just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-stormare/i-dislike-those-people-that-see-an-opera-and-say-oh-they-can-t-act-it/) [Peter Stormare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-stormare/) > [I dislike when people try to pigeonhole me, when all I want is to do good work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-black/i-dislike-when-people-try-to-pigeonhole-me-when-all-i-want-is-to-do/) [Karen Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-black/) > [“… as I associated with more and more different types, I realized that to make it, you had to get along with almost everybody.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-i-associated-with-more-and-more-different-types-i-realized-that-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I rarely dislike people for things they can't change, they usually give me sufficient cause to dislike them for other reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/i-rarely-dislike-people-for-things-they-can-t-change-they-usually/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [I do dislike people with Moral Aims. Everyone asks me why I learn Arabic, and when I say I just like it, they looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/i-do-dislike-people-with-moral-aims-everyone-asks-me-why-i-learn/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) > [Let's clear one thing up: Introverts do not hate small talk because we dislike people. We hate small talk because we hate the barrier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/let-s-clear-one-thing-up-introverts-do-not-hate-small-talk-because-we/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I really dislike people that get everything from their parents and their parents try to buy their love. Driving around in cars/trucks that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lee-riner/i-really-dislike-people-that-get-everything-from-their-parents-and/) [Justin Lee Riner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lee-riner/) > [I don't spend and save whenever I have spare cash. I dislike people who boast about money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-capes/i-don-t-spend-and-save-whenever-i-have-spare-cash-i-dislike-people/) [Geoff Capes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-capes/) > [I don't dislike people; I love people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/i-don-t-dislike-people-i-love-people/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [It's not that I dislike many people. It's just that I don't like many people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-gumbel/it-s-not-that-i-dislike-many-people-it-s-just-that-i-don-t-like-many/) [Bryant Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-gumbel/) > [“Changes in Relationship with others: It is especially hard to trust other people if you have been repeatedly abused, abandoned or betrayed as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzette-boon/changes-in-relationship-with-others-it-is-especially-hard-to-trust/) [Suzette Boon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzette-boon/) > [There would be very little to dislike in other people if we refused to bring to them all of our own judgements and petty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-jampolsky/there-would-be-very-little-to-dislike-in-other-people-if-we-refused/) [Gerald Jampolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-jampolsky/) > [Do you like people? Most people claim that they like people with, of course, a "few exceptions." When the exceptions are added together it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/do-you-like-people-most-people-claim-that-they-like-people-with-of/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) ## More by Christopher Hitchens > [“The spirit of our accurate and exact philosophy is outraged by conclusions that contradict each other so glaringly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-spirit-of-our-accurate-and-exact-philosophy-is-outraged-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Many governments employ torture but this was the first time that the element of Saturnalia and pornography in the process had been made so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/many-governments-employ-torture-but-this-was-the-first-time-that-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ It's \[Los Angeles\] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-los-angeles-mostly-full-of-nonsense-and-delusion-and-egomania/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [To be against rationalization is not the same as to be opposed to reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/to-be-against-rationalization-is-not-the-same-as-to-be-opposed-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ \[Religion\] attacks us in our deepest integrity - the core of our self-respect. Religion says that we would not know right from wrong, we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/religion-attacks-us-in-our-deepest-integrity-the-core-of-our-self/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“In the very recent past, we have seen the Church of Rome befouled by its complicity with the unpardonable sin of child rape, or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/in-the-very-recent-past-we-have-seen-the-church-of-rome-befouled-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's surprising to me how many of my friends send Christmas cards, or holiday cards, including my atheist and secular friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-surprising-to-me-how-many-of-my-friends-send-christmas-cards-or/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Suppose there were groups of secularists at hospitals who went round the terminally ill and urged them to adopt atheism: 'Don't be a mug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/suppose-there-were-groups-of-secularists-at-hospitals-who-went-round/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [There are, after all, atheists who say they wish the fable were true but are unable to suspend the requisite disbelief, or who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/there-are-after-all-atheists-who-say-they-wish-the-fable-were-true/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“It isn’t so long since a test of Anglican orthodoxy was applied to anyone seeking to study or teach at Oxford and Cambridge universities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-isn-t-so-long-since-a-test-of-anglican-orthodoxy-was-applied-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Gullibility and credulity are considered undesireable qualities in every department of human life - except religion ... Why are we praised by godly men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/gullibility-and-credulity-are-considered-undesireable-qualities-in/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's much worse to see a woman drunk than a man: I don't know quite why this is true but it just is. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-much-worse-to-see-a-woman-drunk-than-a-man-i-don-t-know-quite/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's true that obscenity is a matter of taste and in the eye of the beholder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-true-that-obscenity-is-a-matter-of-taste-and-in-the-eye-of-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I worked out early on to give up things I couldn't do well at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-worked-out-early-on-to-give-up-things-i-couldn-t-do-well-at-all/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Writing is what's important to me, and anything that helps me do that - or enhances and prolongs and deepens and sometimes intensifies argument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/writing-is-what-s-important-to-me-and-anything-that-helps-me-do-that/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) [Explore all 1,241 Christopher Hitchens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## More Dislike People quotes > [“There are plenty of people in the world I don't dislike, some of whom I almost like; on the other hand, I almost hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiromi-kawakami/there-are-plenty-of-people-in-the-world-i-don-t-dislike-some-of-whom/) [Hiromi Kawakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiromi-kawakami/) > [There would be very little to dislike in other people if we refused to bring to them all of our own judgements and petty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-jampolsky/there-would-be-very-little-to-dislike-in-other-people-if-we-refused/) [Gerald Jampolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-jampolsky/) > [“Changes in Relationship with others: It is especially hard to trust other people if you have been repeatedly abused, abandoned or betrayed as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzette-boon/changes-in-relationship-with-others-it-is-especially-hard-to-trust/) [Suzette Boon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzette-boon/) > [It's not that I dislike many people. It's just that I don't like many people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-gumbel/it-s-not-that-i-dislike-many-people-it-s-just-that-i-don-t-like-many/) [Bryant Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-gumbel/) > [I don't dislike people; I love people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/i-don-t-dislike-people-i-love-people/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [I don't spend and save whenever I have spare cash. I dislike people who boast about money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-capes/i-don-t-spend-and-save-whenever-i-have-spare-cash-i-dislike-people/) [Geoff Capes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-capes/) > [I really dislike people that get everything from their parents and their parents try to buy their love. Driving around in cars/trucks that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lee-riner/i-really-dislike-people-that-get-everything-from-their-parents-and/) [Justin Lee Riner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lee-riner/) > [Let's clear one thing up: Introverts do not hate small talk because we dislike people. We hate small talk because we hate the barrier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/let-s-clear-one-thing-up-introverts-do-not-hate-small-talk-because-we/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I do dislike people with Moral Aims. Everyone asks me why I learn Arabic, and when I say I just like it, they looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/i-do-dislike-people-with-moral-aims-everyone-asks-me-why-i-learn/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) > [I rarely dislike people for things they can't change, they usually give me sufficient cause to dislike them for other reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/i-rarely-dislike-people-for-things-they-can-t-change-they-usually/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [“… as I associated with more and more different types, I realized that to make it, you had to get along with almost everybody.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-i-associated-with-more-and-more-different-types-i-realized-that-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I dislike when people try to pigeonhole me, when all I want is to do good work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-black/i-dislike-when-people-try-to-pigeonhole-me-when-all-i-want-is-to-do/) [Karen Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-black/) > [I dislike those people that see an opera and say "Oh, they can't act it. They just sing. It's boring." Lean back and just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-stormare/i-dislike-those-people-that-see-an-opera-and-say-oh-they-can-t-act-it/) [Peter Stormare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-stormare/) > [“Ever since I served as an infantryman in the First World War I have had a great dislike of people who, themselves in ease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ever-since-i-served-as-an-infantryman-in-the-first-world-war-i-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Do you like people? Most people claim that they like people with, of course, a "few exceptions." When the exceptions are added together it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/do-you-like-people-most-people-claim-that-they-like-people-with-of/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) [Browse all 41 Dislike People quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dislike-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Those who, having opinions which they hold to be immensely important, and the contraries to be prodigiously hurtful, have any deep regard for the general good, will necessarily dislike, as a class and in the abstract, those who think wrong what they think right, and right what they think wrong: though they need not therefore be, nor was my father, insensible to good qualities in an opponent, nor governed in their estimation of individuals by one general presumption, instead of by the whole of their character. I grant that an earnest person, being no more infallible than other men, is liable to dislike people on account of opinions which do not merit dislike; but if he neither himself does them any ill office, nor connives at its being done by others, he is not intolerant: and the forbearance, which flows from a conscientious sense of the importance to mankind of the equal freedom of all opinions, is the only tolerance which is commendable, or, to the highest moral order of minds, possible.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christopher Hitchens" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/those-who-having-opinions-which-they-hold-to-be-immensely-important/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dislike People" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/those-who-having-opinions-which-they-hold-to-be-immensely-important/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a07/christopher-hitchens-117_quote_those-who-having-opinions-which-they-hol_1097935.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a07/christopher-hitchens-117_quote_those-who-having-opinions-which-they-hol_1097935.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a07/christopher-hitchens-117_quote_those-who-having-opinions-which-they-hol_1097935.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Those who, having opinions which they hold to be immensely important, and the contraries to be prodigiously…” — Christopher Hitchens", "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": "Christopher Hitchens", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Those who, having opinions which they...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/those-who-having-opinions-which-they-hold-to-be-immensely-important/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/those-who-having-opinions-which-they-hold-to-be-immensely-important/#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 } } ] } ```