Accepted Quote by Lev Shestov
“Heretics were most often bitterly persecuted for the their least deviation from accepted belief. It was precisely their obstinacy about trifles that irritated the righteous to madness.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: All Things Are Possible, Lev Shestov, 1914
Minor deviations from dominant beliefs can provoke extreme hostility, especially when the dissenters are stubborn about trivial details.
In simple terms: Small differences can cause big conflict.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the danger of overreacting to minor dissent.
Themes
intolerance
dogmatism
conflict
minority rights
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- political debate
- academic discourse
- religious communities
- workplace disagreements
Key Concepts
philosophy
social dynamics
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you respond when faced with minor dissent?
- What mechanisms can reduce intolerance?
A Different Perspective
The quote may overstate the universality of persecution; not all minor deviations lead to violence.
![“We have reached a situation where a theory has been accepted as fact by some, and possible contrary evidence is shunted aside. [This is] mythology rather than science.” quote by Robert Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c31/robert-shapiro-26969_accepted_we-have-reached-a-situation-where-a-theo_19120.jpg)
