--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...not simple intolerance but the…" description: "\"“...not simple intolerance but the tolerance of intolerance, which allows the intolerance to persist.”\" — John Irving" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/john-irving-337_tolerance_not-simple-intolerance-but-the-tolerance_1244813.png" --- # ...not simple intolerance but the tolerance of… ![“...not simple intolerance but the tolerance of intolerance, which allows the intolerance to persist.” quote by John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/john-irving-337_tolerance_not-simple-intolerance-but-the-tolerance_1244813.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/john-irving-337_tolerance_not-simple-intolerance-but-the-tolerance_1244813.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/john-irving-337_tolerance_not-simple-intolerance-but-the-tolerance_1244813.png) > ““...not simple intolerance but the tolerance of intolerance, which allows the intolerance to persist.”” [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that tolerating intolerant ideas lets them survive and spread. **In simple terms:** Tolerating intolerance lets it continue. Key Takeaway Avoid endorsing or normalizing hateful views. Themes tolerance intolerance social responsibility Mood concerned critical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political discourse - online communities - education - legislation Key Concepts ethics free speech paradox social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do we draw the line between free speech and protecting society? - When is it necessary to challenge intolerant ideas directly? A Different Perspective Tolerance can be misused to protect harmful ideologies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allows Intolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allows-intolerance-3899616/) [Intolerance Allows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intolerance-allows-3899614/) [Intolerance Persist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intolerance-persist-3899615/) [Intolerance Tolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intolerance-tolerance-2475397/) [Tolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerance/) [Tolerance Intolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerance-intolerance-2475395/) ## Related quotes > [Tolerance for intolerance is not tolerance at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bawer/tolerance-for-intolerance-is-not-tolerance-at-all/) [Bruce Bawer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bawer/) > [There is no other subject on which the average mind is so much confused as the subject of tolerance and intolerance... Tolerance applies only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/there-is-no-other-subject-on-which-the-average-mind-is-so-much/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tolerance or intolerance can be attributed as the single most important factor in understanding the psychology of any society, viz. a viz., its attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-ashok-anand-2/tolerance-or-intolerance-can-be-attributed-as-the-single-most/) [Dr.Ashok Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-ashok-anand-2/) > [Tolerance of intolerance is cowardice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/tolerance-of-intolerance-is-cowardice/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) > [Neither tolerance nor intolerance is grounded in science and reason, but they are themselves acts of faith grounded in social custom and the politics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-money/neither-tolerance-nor-intolerance-is-grounded-in-science-and-reason/) [John Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-money/) > [You can't reduce a country to its tolerance or intolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conchita-wurst/you-can-t-reduce-a-country-to-its-tolerance-or-intolerance/) [Conchita Wurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conchita-wurst/) > [“Of course, everyone is intolerant of something or someone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/of-course-everyone-is-intolerant-of-something-or-someone/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [All I say is: Let us leave les folles alone; let's just leave them be. Don't judge them. You are not superior to them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/all-i-say-is-let-us-leave-les-folles-alone-let-s-just-leave-them-be/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Being tolerant does not mean that I share another ones belief. But it does mean that I acknowledge another ones right to believe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-frankl/being-tolerant-does-not-mean-that-i-share-another-ones-belief-but-it/) [Viktor Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-frankl/) > [Elections are not a beauty contest. It is all about tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-franz/elections-are-not-a-beauty-contest-it-is-all-about-tolerance/) [Vladimir Franz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-franz/) > [A person should be judged by the actions of his or her own heart and character not by his or her race, creed, age,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veedan-shimakuura/a-person-should-be-judged-by-the-actions-of-his-or-her-own-heart-and/) [Veedan Shimakuura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veedan-shimakuura/) > [“Tolerance used to be the attitude that we took toward one another when we disagreed about an important issue; we would agree to treat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-warner-wallace/tolerance-used-to-be-the-attitude-that-we-took-toward-one-another/) [J. Warner Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-warner-wallace/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [Unchecked, the new tolerance will sooner or later put many people in chains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/unchecked-the-new-tolerance-will-sooner-or-later-put-many-people-in/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [We're raising children who have little tolerance for disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-raising-children-who-have-little-tolerance-for-disappointment/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) ## More by John Irving > [Your memory is a monster; you forget - it doesn't. It simply files things away. It keeps things for you, or hides things from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/your-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-doesn-t-it-simply-files-things/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Our memory is a monster; you forget it - it does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/our-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-it-does-not/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Watch out for people who call themselves religious; make sure you know what they mean––make sure they know what they mean!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/watch-out-for-people-who-call-themselves-religious-make-sure-you-know/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [The desire to never leave your side, the desire to never see you again. The desire to see your face asleep on the pillow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/the-desire-to-never-leave-your-side-the-desire-to-never-see-you-again/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I had been a student in Vienna, and one of the neat little things I had found out was about that zoo. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-had-been-a-student-in-vienna-and-one-of-the-neat-little-things-i/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“God, I think I just hit a high E-flat - and I really held it!" Esmeralda said, after one of her more prolonged orgasms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/god-i-think-i-just-hit-a-high-e-flat-and-i-really-held-it-esmeralda/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Nostalgia!" Miss Frost cried. "You´re nostalgic!" She repeated. "Just how old are you, William?" She asked. "Seventeen, " I told her. "Seventeen!" Miss Frost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/nostalgia-miss-frost-cried-you-re-nostalgic-she-repeated-just-how-old/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [ “JUST BECAUSE A BUNCH OF ATHEISTS ARE BETTER WRITERS THAN THE GUYS WHO WROTE THE BIBLE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THEM RIGHT!" \[Owen Meany\] said… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/just-because-a-bunch-of-atheists-are-better-writers-than-the-guys-who/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [It is much easier to be flexible about where a story begins than it ever was for me to change my mind about where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/it-is-much-easier-to-be-flexible-about-where-a-story-begins-than-it/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Only the chicken-lover will understand me. He will give me a kindly look, maybe mildly desirous. His eyes will tell me: You might look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/only-the-chicken-lover-will-understand-me-he-will-give-me-a-kindly/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [You're nice,' Cushie told him, squeezing his hand. 'And you're my oldest friend.' But they both must have known that you can know someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/you-re-nice-cushie-told-him-squeezing-his-hand-and-you-re-my-oldest/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Because of A Prayer for Owen Meany, many of my readers assume I am “religious.” I go to church only occasionally—like a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/because-of-a-prayer-for-owen-meany-many-of-my-readers-assume-i-am/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Did anyone who was in love and was unsatisfied with how he was loved in return ever feel saved?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/did-anyone-who-was-in-love-and-was-unsatisfied-with-how-he-was-loved/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“I TRUST THAT GOD WILL HELP ME, BECAUSE WHAT I’M SUPPOSED TO DO LOOKS VERY HARD.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-trust-that-god-will-help-me-because-what-i-m-supposed-to-do-looks/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Explore all 641 John Irving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) ## More Tolerance quotes > [We're raising children who have little tolerance for disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-raising-children-who-have-little-tolerance-for-disappointment/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Unchecked, the new tolerance will sooner or later put many people in chains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/unchecked-the-new-tolerance-will-sooner-or-later-put-many-people-in/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [“Tolerance used to be the attitude that we took toward one another when we disagreed about an important issue; we would agree to treat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-warner-wallace/tolerance-used-to-be-the-attitude-that-we-took-toward-one-another/) [J. Warner Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-warner-wallace/) > [A person should be judged by the actions of his or her own heart and character not by his or her race, creed, age,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veedan-shimakuura/a-person-should-be-judged-by-the-actions-of-his-or-her-own-heart-and/) [Veedan Shimakuura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veedan-shimakuura/) > [Elections are not a beauty contest. It is all about tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-franz/elections-are-not-a-beauty-contest-it-is-all-about-tolerance/) [Vladimir Franz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-franz/) > [Being tolerant does not mean that I share another ones belief. But it does mean that I acknowledge another ones right to believe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-frankl/being-tolerant-does-not-mean-that-i-share-another-ones-belief-but-it/) [Viktor Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-frankl/) > [Shaw's works make me admire the magnificent tolerance and broadmindedness of the english.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/shaw-s-works-make-me-admire-the-magnificent-tolerance-and/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [“Pilgrim of the heart, oneness in our vein - love is the revolution, Human is the name.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/pilgrim-of-the-heart-oneness-in-our-vein-love-is-the-revolution-human/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I have a real low tolerance for parasites, and you're so close to the limit that I'm already reaching for the flea powder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-howard/i-have-a-real-low-tolerance-for-parasites-and-you-re-so-close-to-the/) [Linda Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-howard/) > [We must work harder to build mutual respect, an attitude of tolerance, with forbearance one for another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/we-must-work-harder-to-build-mutual-respect-an-attitude-of-tolerance/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [There is a limit to political and public tolerance for sacrifice on behalf of wildlife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-rinella/there-is-a-limit-to-political-and-public-tolerance-for-sacrifice-on/) [Steven Rinella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-rinella/) > [“If you cannot wait for time to unearth roots, you must dig.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelou-keramati/if-you-cannot-wait-for-time-to-unearth-roots-you-must-dig/) [Nelou Keramati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelou-keramati/) > [I resolutely believe that respect for diversity is a fundamental pillar in the eradication of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. There is no excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-resolutely-believe-that-respect-for-diversity-is-a-fundamental/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) [Browse all 1,713 Tolerance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“...not simple intolerance but the tolerance of intolerance, which allows the intolerance to persist.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Irving" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/not-simple-intolerance-but-the-tolerance-of-intolerance-which-allows/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Tolerance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/not-simple-intolerance-but-the-tolerance-of-intolerance-which-allows/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/john-irving-337_tolerance_not-simple-intolerance-but-the-tolerance_1244813.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/john-irving-337_tolerance_not-simple-intolerance-but-the-tolerance_1244813.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/john-irving-337_tolerance_not-simple-intolerance-but-the-tolerance_1244813.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“...not simple intolerance but the tolerance of intolerance, which allows the intolerance to persist.” — John Irving", "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": "John Irving", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“...not simple intolerance but the tolerance...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/not-simple-intolerance-but-the-tolerance-of-intolerance-which-allows/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/not-simple-intolerance-but-the-tolerance-of-intolerance-which-allows/#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 } } ] } ```