--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If anyone, no matter who, were given the…" description: "\"If anyone, no matter who, were given the opportunity of choosing from amongst all the nations in the world the set of beliefs which he thought best, he..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/herodotus-2844_being-the-best_if-anyone-no-matter-who-were-given-the-o_627194.jpg" --- # If anyone, no matter who, were given the opportunity of… ![“If anyone, no matter who, were given the opportunity of choosing from amongst all the nations in the world the set of beliefs which he thought best, he would inevitably—after careful considerations of their relative merits—choose that of his own country. Everyone without exception believes his own…” quote by Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/herodotus-2844_being-the-best_if-anyone-no-matter-who-were-given-the-o_627194.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/herodotus-2844_being-the-best_if-anyone-no-matter-who-were-given-the-o_627194.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/herodotus-2844_being-the-best_if-anyone-no-matter-who-were-given-the-o_627194.jpg) > “If anyone, no matter who, were given the opportunity of choosing from amongst all the nations in the world the set of beliefs which he thought best, he would inevitably—after careful considerations of their relative merits—choose that of his own country. Everyone without exception believes his own native customs, and the religion he was brought up in, to be the best.” [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People tend to favor their own culture and religion as superior after weighing options. **In simple terms:** We prefer our own customs and faith. Key Takeaway Recognize bias toward familiar beliefs. Themes cultural bias ethnocentrism identity subjectivity Mood reflective critical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - political discourse - intercultural dialogue - education - policy making Key Concepts social psychology in‑group favoritism cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - How does cultural bias affect decision making? - What steps can reduce ethnocentric thinking? A Different Perspective Bias can hinder objective evaluation of other cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being the best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-the-best/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Beliefs Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs-thought-2779603/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believes Native](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believes-native-2452401/) [Careful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careful/) [Choose Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-country-5062336/) [Choosing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choosing/) [Choosing Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choosing-nations-5062335/) [Consideration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consideration/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Cultural relativism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cultural-relativism/) [Customs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customs/) [Exception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exception/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Merit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merit/) [Native](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Relative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relative/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“How dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-shelley/how-dangerous-is-the-acquirement-of-knowledge-and-how-much-happier/) [Mary Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-shelley/) > [We now have two options: We can commence operations at the Hotspots in Italy and Greece and continue to do nothing - in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/we-now-have-two-options-we-can-commence-operations-at-the-hotspots-in/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [“To play the country-game, we have to choose a country. 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The conscientious historian will correct these defects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/very-few-things-happen-at-the-right-time-and-the-rest-do-not-happen/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [ They \[the Persians\] are accustomed to deliberate on matters of the highest moment when warm with wine; but whatever they in this situation may… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/they-the-persians-are-accustomed-to-deliberate-on-matters-of-the/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Circumstances rule men; men do not rule circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/circumstances-rule-men-men-do-not-rule-circumstances/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [To think well and to consent to obey someone giving good advice are the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/to-think-well-and-to-consent-to-obey-someone-giving-good-advice-are/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Unless a variety of opinions are laid before us, we have no opportunity of selection, but are bound of necessity to adopt the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/unless-a-variety-of-opinions-are-laid-before-us-we-have-no/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Of all possessions a friend is the most precious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/of-all-possessions-a-friend-is-the-most-precious/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Those who are guided by reason are generally successful in their plans; those who are rash and precipitate seldom enjoy the favour of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/those-who-are-guided-by-reason-are-generally-successful-in-their/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [The gods loves to punish whatever is greater than the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/the-gods-loves-to-punish-whatever-is-greater-than-the-rest/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) [Explore all 145 Herodotus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) ## More Being the best quotes > [High school sucked. 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