--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not the feeling sure of a doctrine…" description: "\"It is not the feeling sure of a doctrine (be it what it may) which I call an assumption of infallibility. It is the undertaking to decide that question..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/111/john-stuart-mill-477_allowing_it-is-not-the-feeling-sure-of-a-doctrine_1235871.jpg" --- # It is not the feeling sure of a doctrine (be it what it… ![“It is not the feeling sure of a doctrine (be it what it may) which I call an assumption of infallibility. It is the undertaking to decide that question for others, without allowing them to hear what can be said on the contrary side. And I denounce and reprobate this pretension not the less, if put…” quote by John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/111/john-stuart-mill-477_allowing_it-is-not-the-feeling-sure-of-a-doctrine_1235871.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/111/john-stuart-mill-477_allowing_it-is-not-the-feeling-sure-of-a-doctrine_1235871.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/111/john-stuart-mill-477_allowing_it-is-not-the-feeling-sure-of-a-doctrine_1235871.jpg) > “It is not the feeling sure of a doctrine (be it what it may) which I call an assumption of infallibility. It is the undertaking to decide that question for others, without allowing them to hear what can be said on the contrary side. And I denounce and reprobate this pretension not the less, if put forth on the side of my most solemn convictions.” [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. Warns against imposing one's beliefs as absolute truth, stifling dissent and critical discussion. **In simple terms:** Do not treat personal beliefs as unquestionable. Key Takeaway Question assumptions, allow dialogue. Themes freedom truth dialogue authority Mood critical thoughtful serious Type philosophical political ethical When to use this quote - legislation - education - media reporting - public debate Key Concepts philosophy political theory ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle conflicting viewpoints? - When should you challenge a widely held belief? A Different Perspective Absolute certainty can hinder progress and understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allowing/) [Assumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumption/) [Assumption Infallibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumption-infallibility-2636841/) [Contrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrary/) [Conviction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction/) [Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine/) [Doctrine Assumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine-assumption-3840857/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Infallibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infallibility/) [Infallibility Undertaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infallibility-undertaking-3840858/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Pretension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretension/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [Solemn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solemn/) [Truth Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-seeking/) [Undertakings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undertakings/) ## Related quotes > [All silencing of discussion is an assumption of infallibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/all-silencing-of-discussion-is-an-assumption-of-infallibility/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [Perhaps I had better inform my Protestant readers that the famous Dogma of Papal Infallibility is by far the most modest pretension of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/perhaps-i-had-better-inform-my-protestant-readers-that-the-famous/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [To refuse a hearing to an opinion, because they are sure that it is false, is to assume that their certainty is the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/to-refuse-a-hearing-to-an-opinion-because-they-are-sure-that-it-is/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [ “\[For people\] to refuse a hearing to an opinion, because they are sure that it is false, is to assume that their certainty is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/for-people-to-refuse-a-hearing-to-an-opinion-because-they-are-sure/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [if any opinion is compelled to silence, that opinion may, for aught we can certainly know, be true. 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