1930s Quote by Jacob Bronowski
“The Principle of Tolerance, fixed once for all the realization that all knowledge is limited. It is an irony of history that at the very time when this was being worked out, there should rise, under Hitler in Germany and other tyrants elsewhere, a counter-conception: a principle of monstrous certainty. When the future looks back on the 1930's, it will think of them as a crucial confrontation of culture as I have been expounding it - the ascent of man against the throwback to the despots' belief that they have absolute certainty.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: “The Principle of Tolerance” lecture, 1950s
Tolerance is essential because knowledge is limited; extremist certainty arises when people claim absolute truth, leading to cultural conflict.
In simple terms: Knowing limits promotes tolerance; certainty fuels tyranny.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions and value humility.
Themes
tolerance
knowledge limits
extremism
history
culture
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
historical
When to use this quote
- education
- political discourse
- media analysis
- personal belief systems
Key Concepts
philosophy
political theory
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What limits do you accept?
- How do you handle conflicting certainties?
A Different Perspective
Absolute certainty can be persuasive despite evidence.
