Catholic Quote by Fulton J. Sheen
““Tolerance is an attitude of reasoned patience toward evil … a forbearance that restrains us from showing anger or inflicting punishment. Tolerance applies only to persons … never to truth. Tolerance applies to the erring, intolerance to the error … Architects are as intolerant about sand as foundations for skyscrapers as doctors are intolerant about germs in the laboratory. Tolerance does not apply to truth or principles. About these things we must be intolerant, and for this kind of intolerance, so much needed to rouse us from sentimental gush, I make a plea. Intolerance of this kind is the foundation of all stability.””
About This Quote
Source Sermon: “The Foundations of Stability,” 1955
Tolerance is patience toward wrongdoing but not toward truth; intolerance of error is essential for stability.
In simple terms: Patience for bad actions, but not for falsehoods.
Key Takeaway
Be intolerant of falsehoods to protect truth.
Themes
tolerance
truth
stability
ethics
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- political debate
- legal judgments
- educational curricula
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
philosophy
morality
principles
Questions to Reflect On
- When should we accept error?
- How do we balance patience with truth?
A Different Perspective
Tolerance can suppress necessary dissent if applied too broadly.
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![“The young man [Turgot] destined for an ecclesiastical career was placed within walls carefully designed to keep out all currents of new thought; his studies, his reading, his professors, his associates, all were combined to keep from him any results of observation or reflection save those…” quote by Andrew Dickson White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5d4/andrew-dickson-white-24254_associates_the-young-man-turgot-destined-for-an-ecc_3146.jpg)
![“Girded with faith and the performance of good works, let us follow in his [Jesus] paths by the guidance of the Gospel.” quote by Benedict of Nursia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a2f/benedict-of-nursia-29376_catholic_girded-with-faith-and-the-performance-of_6463.jpg)
