Ancient Quote by Henry Thomas Buckle
“Even in an advanced stage of civilization, there is always a tendency to prefer those parts of literature which favor ancient prejudices, rather than those which oppose them; and in cases where this tendency is very strong, the only effect of great learning will be to supply the materials which may corroborate old errors and confirm old superstitions. In our time such instances are not uncommon; and we frequently meet with men whose erudition ministers to their ignorance, and who, the more they read the less they know.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Observations on the Progress of Society, 1859
He warns that educated societies often cling to outdated prejudices, using scholarship to reinforce old errors rather than challenge them.
In simple terms: Learning can unintentionally support old biases if not critically examined.
Key Takeaway
Critically evaluate information to avoid reinforcing harmful traditions.
Themes
education
bias
history
critical thinking
Mood
reflective
skeptical
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- academic research
- policy making
- media consumption
- public discourse
- curriculum design
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
social inertia
knowledge misuse
Questions to Reflect On
- What biases might you hold despite your education?
- How can scholarship be used to challenge rather than confirm prejudice?
A Different Perspective
Even well‑intentioned scholarship can perpetuate injustice if not self‑aware.
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![“Unconscious, perhaps, of the remote tendency of his own labours, he [Joseph Black] undermined that doctrine of material heat, which he seemed to support. For, by his advocacy of latent heat, he taught that its movements constantly battle, not only some of our senses, but all of them; and that…” quote by Henry Thomas Buckle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c31/henry-thomas-buckle-29673_force_unconscious-perhaps-of-the-remote-tenden_1377449.jpg)
