--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A state of things in which a large…" description: "\"A state of things in which a large portion of the most active and inquiring intellects find it advisable to keep the genuine principles and grounds of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/john-stuart-mill-477_active_a-state-of-things-in-which-a-large-porti_1661119.png" --- # A state of things in which a large portion of the most… ![“A state of things in which a large portion of the most active and inquiring intellects find it advisable to keep the genuine principles and grounds of their convictions within their own breasts, and attempt, in what they address to the public, to fit as much as they can of their own conclusions to…” quote by John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/john-stuart-mill-477_active_a-state-of-things-in-which-a-large-porti_1661119.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/john-stuart-mill-477_active_a-state-of-things-in-which-a-large-porti_1661119.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/john-stuart-mill-477_active_a-state-of-things-in-which-a-large-porti_1661119.png) > “A state of things in which a large portion of the most active and inquiring intellects find it advisable to keep the genuine principles and grounds of their convictions within their own breasts, and attempt, in what they address to the public, to fit as much as they can of their own conclusions to premises which they have internally renounced, cannot send forth the open, fearless characters, and logical, consistent intellects who once adorned the thinking world.” [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intellectuals hide true beliefs, presenting them as public conclusions, leading to a loss of honest, fearless discourse. **In simple terms:** People conceal real ideas to appear rational publicly. Key Takeaway Speak truthfully, even if unpopular. Themes honesty intellectual integrity public discourse self‑censorship Mood reflective serious critical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - academic debates - political speeches - media commentary - personal conversations Key Concepts philosophy political theory psychology Questions to Reflect On - What beliefs do you hide in public? - How can you foster honest dialogue? A Different Perspective True convictions may be suppressed by fear of backlash. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Active](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/active/) [Addresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addresses/) [Advisable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advisable/) [Breasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breasts/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Consistent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistent/) [Consistent Intellects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistent-intellects-760406/) [Conviction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction/) [Fearless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fearless/) [Fit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fit/) [Genuine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genuine/) [Inquiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inquiring/) [Inquiring Intellects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inquiring-intellects-760407/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Intellect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellect/) [Intellects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellects/) [Intellects Adorned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellects-adorned-760408/) [Intellects Advisable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellects-advisable-760405/) [Logical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/logical/) [Portions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/portions/) [Premises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/premises/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Who can compute what the world loses in the multitude of promising intellects combined with timid characters, who dare not follow out any bold,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/who-can-compute-what-the-world-loses-in-the-multitude-of-promising/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [The highest intellects, like the tops of mountains, are the first to catch and to reflect the dawn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/the-highest-intellects-like-the-tops-of-mountains-are-the-first-to/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Why should I go into details, we have nothing that is not perishable except what our hearts and our intellects endows us with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/why-should-i-go-into-details-we-have-nothing-that-is-not-perishable/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Strong currents drag many stones and bushes along with them, strong intellects many dense and muddled minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/strong-currents-drag-many-stones-and-bushes-along-with-them-strong/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“God created philosophy for all the intellects that got bored of hearing the same bible stories every Sunday.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/god-created-philosophy-for-all-the-intellects-that-got-bored-of/) [Shannon L. 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