Intolerance Quote by John Stuart Mill
““What is boasted of at the present time as the revival of religion, is always, in narrow and uncultivated minds, at least as much the revival of bigotry; and where there is the strong permanent leaven of intolerance in the feelings of a people, which at all times abides in the middle classes of this country, it needs but little to provoke them into actively persecuting those whom they have never ceased to think proper objects of persecution.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: On Liberty, 1859
Revival of religion often masks bigotry; intolerance spreads through middle classes, leading to persecution of perceived outsiders.
In simple terms: Religion can hide prejudice, causing persecution.
Key Takeaway
Beware of intolerance disguised as faith.
Themes
religion
bigotry
intolerance
social class
persecution
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
social.
When to use this quote
- public policy
- education
- community building
- media analysis
- personal belief systems
Key Concepts
political philosophy
social critique
human rights
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies curb intolerance?
- What role does education play?
A Different Perspective
Not all religious revival is harmful; context matters.
![“[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)
