--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tolerance it a tremendous virtue, but the…" description: "\"Tolerance it a tremendous virtue, but the immediate neighbors of tolerance are apathy and weakness.\" — James Goldsmith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/james-goldsmith-35899_apathy_tolerance-it-a-tremendous-virtue-but-the_2063300.png" --- # Tolerance it a tremendous virtue, but the immediate… ![“Tolerance it a tremendous virtue, but the immediate neighbors of tolerance are apathy and weakness.” quote by James Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/james-goldsmith-35899_apathy_tolerance-it-a-tremendous-virtue-but-the_2063300.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/james-goldsmith-35899_apathy_tolerance-it-a-tremendous-virtue-but-the_2063300.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/james-goldsmith-35899_apathy_tolerance-it-a-tremendous-virtue-but-the_2063300.png) > “Tolerance it a tremendous virtue, but the immediate neighbors of tolerance are apathy and weakness.” [James Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldsmith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Tolerance is valuable, but it can lead to indifference and lack of strength if not balanced. **In simple terms:** Tolerance can breed apathy if unchecked. Key Takeaway Balance tolerance with active engagement. Themes ethics virtue society Mood cautious reflective Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - political discourse - community building - leadership training Key Concepts moral philosophy social dynamics strength of character Questions to Reflect On - How to distinguish tolerance from complacency? - What safeguards prevent apathy? A Different Perspective Too much tolerance may enable harmful behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apathy/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Neighbor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbor/) [Tolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerance/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) ## Related quotes > [Tolerance and apathy are the last virtues of a dying society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/tolerance-and-apathy-are-the-last-virtues-of-a-dying-society/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“The young woman had read a good many novels, and she had seen a good many films; this education by newspaper, serial and film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-renard/the-young-woman-had-read-a-good-many-novels-and-she-had-seen-a-good/) [Maurice Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-renard/) > [“The fundamental basis by which the court’s decision might be made is, in itself, imperfect and subject to contradictions. There is very little consideration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/the-fundamental-basis-by-which-the-court-s-decision-might-be-made-is/) [Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/) > [“Use the apathy of your logic to solve your problems and then the passion of your soul to enjoy life after that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelos-michalopoulos/use-the-apathy-of-your-logic-to-solve-your-problems-and-then-the/) [Angelos Michalopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelos-michalopoulos/) > [“It takes more than one kick in the pants to reverse a lifetime of unplanned apathy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-neilan/it-takes-more-than-one-kick-in-the-pants-to-reverse-a-lifetime-of/) [Paul Neilan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-neilan/) > [“If someone with a high level of authority were to ask me, "Suzy, how can we make people so incredibly stupid and apathetic, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/if-someone-with-a-high-level-of-authority-were-to-ask-me-suzy-how-can/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“Just because a person is silent doesn’t mean there’s no message.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/just-because-a-person-is-silent-doesn-t-mean-there-s-no-message/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [For he who is not deaf, half a silence is enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-malfatti/for-he-who-is-not-deaf-half-a-silence-is-enough/) [Jean-Paul Malfatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-malfatti/) > [“And there's a freedom in apathy, a wild, dizzying liberation on which you can almost get drunk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/and-there-s-a-freedom-in-apathy-a-wild-dizzying-liberation-on-which/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [Insect politics, indifferent universe. Bang your head against the wall, but apathy is worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-henley/insect-politics-indifferent-universe-bang-your-head-against-the-wall/) [Don Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-henley/) > [Indifference must be a crime in us, to be ranked but one degree below treachery; for deserting the commonwealth is next to betraying it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/indifference-must-be-a-crime-in-us-to-be-ranked-but-one-degree-below/) [Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/) > [Apathy can be overcome by enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/apathy-can-be-overcome-by-enthusiasm/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [Try to greet troubles with apathy. Hello's are never what they used to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-swellers/try-to-greet-troubles-with-apathy-hello-s-are-never-what-they-used-to/) [The Swellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-swellers/) > [One response was given by the innkeeper when Mary and Joseph wanted to find a room where the Child could be born. The innkeeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/one-response-was-given-by-the-innkeeper-when-mary-and-joseph-wanted/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [If possible, I want to hear POLITICS defined without either sympathy or apathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/if-possible-i-want-to-hear-politics-defined-without-either-sympathy/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) ## More by James Goldsmith > [If you see a bandwagon, it's too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldsmith/if-you-see-a-bandwagon-it-s-too-late/) [James Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldsmith/) > [If you see a bandwagon, its too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldsmith/if-you-see-a-bandwagon-its-too-late/) [James Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldsmith/) > [Praise in the beginning is agreeable enough; and we receive it as a favor; but when it comes in great quantities, we regard it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldsmith/praise-in-the-beginning-is-agreeable-enough-and-we-receive-it-as-a/) [James Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldsmith/) > [The ultimate risk is not taking a risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldsmith/the-ultimate-risk-is-not-taking-a-risk/) [James Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldsmith/) > [We (British) have reached the state where the private sector is that part of the economy the government controls and the public sector is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldsmith/we-british-have-reached-the-state-where-the-private-sector-is-that/) [James Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldsmith/) > [When you marry your mistress, you create a job vacancy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldsmith/when-you-marry-your-mistress-you-create-a-job-vacancy/) [James Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldsmith/) > [When a man marries his mistress it creates a job opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldsmith/when-a-man-marries-his-mistress-it-creates-a-job-opportunity/) [James Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldsmith/) > [The bigger the headquarters the more decadent the company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldsmith/the-bigger-the-headquarters-the-more-decadent-the-company/) [James Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldsmith/) > [Beauty is a social necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldsmith/beauty-is-a-social-necessity/) [James Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldsmith/) > [Gossip columnists are diseases, like 'flu. Everyone is subject to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldsmith/gossip-columnists-are-diseases-like-flu-everyone-is-subject-to-them/) [James Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldsmith/) > [If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldsmith/if-you-pay-peanuts-you-get-monkeys/) [James Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldsmith/) > [None has more frequent conversations with a disagreeable self than the man of pleasure; his enthusiasms are but few and transient; his appetites, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldsmith/none-has-more-frequent-conversations-with-a-disagreeable-self-than/) [James Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldsmith/) [Explore all 13 James Goldsmith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldsmith/) ## More Apathy quotes > [If possible, I want to hear POLITICS defined without either sympathy or apathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/if-possible-i-want-to-hear-politics-defined-without-either-sympathy/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [One response was given by the innkeeper when Mary and Joseph wanted to find a room where the Child could be born. The innkeeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/one-response-was-given-by-the-innkeeper-when-mary-and-joseph-wanted/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [Try to greet troubles with apathy. Hello's are never what they used to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-swellers/try-to-greet-troubles-with-apathy-hello-s-are-never-what-they-used-to/) [The Swellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-swellers/) > [Apathy can be overcome by enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/apathy-can-be-overcome-by-enthusiasm/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [Indifference must be a crime in us, to be ranked but one degree below treachery; for deserting the commonwealth is next to betraying it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/indifference-must-be-a-crime-in-us-to-be-ranked-but-one-degree-below/) [Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/) > [Insect politics, indifferent universe. Bang your head against the wall, but apathy is worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-henley/insect-politics-indifferent-universe-bang-your-head-against-the-wall/) [Don Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-henley/) > [“And there's a freedom in apathy, a wild, dizzying liberation on which you can almost get drunk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/and-there-s-a-freedom-in-apathy-a-wild-dizzying-liberation-on-which/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [For he who is not deaf, half a silence is enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-malfatti/for-he-who-is-not-deaf-half-a-silence-is-enough/) [Jean-Paul Malfatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-malfatti/) > [“Just because a person is silent doesn’t mean there’s no message.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/just-because-a-person-is-silent-doesn-t-mean-there-s-no-message/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“If someone with a high level of authority were to ask me, "Suzy, how can we make people so incredibly stupid and apathetic, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/if-someone-with-a-high-level-of-authority-were-to-ask-me-suzy-how-can/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“It takes more than one kick in the pants to reverse a lifetime of unplanned apathy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-neilan/it-takes-more-than-one-kick-in-the-pants-to-reverse-a-lifetime-of/) [Paul Neilan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-neilan/) > [“Use the apathy of your logic to solve your problems and then the passion of your soul to enjoy life after that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelos-michalopoulos/use-the-apathy-of-your-logic-to-solve-your-problems-and-then-the/) [Angelos Michalopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelos-michalopoulos/) > [“The fundamental basis by which the court’s decision might be made is, in itself, imperfect and subject to contradictions. There is very little consideration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/the-fundamental-basis-by-which-the-court-s-decision-might-be-made-is/) [Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/) > [“The young woman had read a good many novels, and she had seen a good many films; this education by newspaper, serial and film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-renard/the-young-woman-had-read-a-good-many-novels-and-she-had-seen-a-good/) [Maurice Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-renard/) > [Mourn not the dead that in the cool earth lie... But rather mourn the apathetic throng - The cowed and the meek - Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-chaplin/mourn-not-the-dead-that-in-the-cool-earth-lie-but-rather-mourn-the/) [Ralph Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-chaplin/) [Browse all 619 Apathy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apathy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Tolerance it a tremendous virtue, but the immediate neighbors of tolerance are apathy and weakness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Goldsmith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldsmith/tolerance-it-a-tremendous-virtue-but-the-immediate-neighbors-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apathy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldsmith/tolerance-it-a-tremendous-virtue-but-the-immediate-neighbors-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/james-goldsmith-35899_apathy_tolerance-it-a-tremendous-virtue-but-the_2063300.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/james-goldsmith-35899_apathy_tolerance-it-a-tremendous-virtue-but-the_2063300.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/james-goldsmith-35899_apathy_tolerance-it-a-tremendous-virtue-but-the_2063300.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Tolerance it a tremendous virtue, but the immediate neighbors of tolerance are apathy and weakness.” — James Goldsmith", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "James Goldsmith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldsmith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Tolerance it a tremendous virtue, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldsmith/tolerance-it-a-tremendous-virtue-but-the-immediate-neighbors-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldsmith/tolerance-it-a-tremendous-virtue-but-the-immediate-neighbors-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```