Human mind Quote by Graham Greene
““It's strange how the human mind swings back and forth, from one extreme to another. Does truth lie at some point of the pendulum's swing, at a point where it never rests, not in the dull perpendicular mean where it dangles in the end like a windless flag, but at an angle, nearer one extreme than another?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The End of the Affair, 1951
Human thought oscillates between extremes; truth may lie not at a neutral middle but at a nuanced angle closer to one side.
In simple terms: Truth is found in nuanced positions, not bland neutrality.
Key Takeaway
Embrace complexity over simple balance.
Themes
philosophy
psychology
truth seeking
Mood
contemplative
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- debating ideas
- making decisions
- self‑reflection
- ethical dilemmas
Key Concepts
dialectics
extremes
pendulum metaphor
Questions to Reflect On
- Where do you stand on this pendulum?
- Can a balanced view be both neutral and insightful?
A Different Perspective
Extreme positions can cause bias and overlook middle ground.
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
![“It is certain that every class is interested in [educational] establishments which give to the human mind its highest improvements, and to every Country its truest and most durable celebrity.” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/964/james-madison-373_certain_it-is-certain-that-every-class-is-intere_22217.jpg)
