Against religion Quote by Karl Ernst von Baer
“All new ideas pass through three stages: first they are dismissed as nonsense, then they are rejected as being against religion and finally they are acknowledged as the truth, with the proviso from the initial opponents that they knew it all along.”
About This Quote
Source Book: On the Development of the Embryo by Karl Ernst von Baer, 1828
Ideas often face initial ridicule, then opposition from established beliefs, before finally being accepted as truth, with skeptics claiming hindsight.
In simple terms: New ideas are first mocked, then resisted, then accepted.
Expect resistance, stay patient.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- scientific research
- technological breakthroughs
- cultural reforms
- policy changes
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you handle criticism of novel ideas?
- What factors turn opposition into acceptance?
Acceptance may be delayed and contested, not immediate.