Affair Quote by David Stove
“People are mostly sane enough, of course, in the affairs of common life: the getting of food, shelter, and so on. But the moment they attempt any depth or generality of thought, they go mad almost infallibly. The vast majority, of course, adopt the local religious madness, as naturally as they adopt the local dress. But the more powerful minds will, equally infallibly, fall into the worship of some intelligent and dangerous lunatic, such as Plato, or Augustine, or Comte, or Hegel, or Marx.”
About This Quote
Human beings manage everyday practical tasks well, but when they attempt deep, abstract thinking they often become dogmatic, substituting intellectual rigor with ideological fanaticism.
In simple terms: Common life is sane; deep thought leads to madness.
Key Takeaway
Abstract reasoning can breed ideological extremism.
Themes
philosophy
dogmatism
human nature
intellectual history
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
critical essay
When to use this quote
- political polarization
- academic echo chambers
- religious fundamentalism
- cult of personality around thinkers
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
group identity
intellectual hubris
Practical Applications
- Cultivate humility and interdisciplinary dialogue.
- Separate methodological rigor from personal belief.
Questions to Reflect On
- When does rigorous analysis become ideological rigidity?
- How can societies protect constructive deep thought?
A Different Perspective
Not all deep thinkers become dogmatic; many maintain critical openness.
