Consideration Quote by John Stuart Mill
“However unwillingly a person who has a strong opinion may admit the possibility that his opinion may be false, he ought to be moved by the consideration that, however true it may be, if it is not fully, frequently, and fearlessly discussed, it will be held as a dead dogma, not a living truth.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: On Liberty, John Stuart Mill, 1859
A strong opinion must be openly debated, otherwise it becomes a rigid dogma rather than a living truth.
In simple terms: Open debate prevents ideas from becoming stale.
Key Takeaway
Encourage fearless discussion of ideas.
Themes
freedom of speech
critical thinking
intellectual humility
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- political debate
- academic seminars
- team meetings
- online forums
Key Concepts
philosophy
ethics
public discourse
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you ensure all perspectives are heard?
- What barriers prevent open discussion?
A Different Perspective
Even open debate can be dominated by louder voices, silencing minorities.
![“[For people] to refuse a hearing to an opinion, because they are sure that it is false, is to assume that their certainty is the same thing as absolute certainty. All silencing of discussion is an assumption of infallibility.” quote by John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c53/john-stuart-mill-477_doubt_for-people-to-refuse-a-hearing-to-an-opi_63929.jpg)
