Doe Quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero
“A man does not wonder at what he sees frequently, even though he be ignorant of the reason. If anything happens which he has not seen before, he calls it a prodigy.”
About This Quote
Source Work: De Oratore, 55 BC
People accept familiar phenomena without question, but label unfamiliar events as extraordinary, revealing a bias toward the known.
In simple terms: We take the usual for granted and marvel at the new.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about the familiar.
Themes
bias
perception
knowledge
curiosity
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- everyday observations
- scientific discovery
- media reporting
- educational settings
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
epistemology
novelty effect
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we label the unknown as miraculous?
- How can we train to investigate familiar things critically?
A Different Perspective
The view may overlook deeper causes behind the “prodigy.”
![“Everyone loves a prodigy [...]. Prodigies get us off the hook for living ordinary lives. We can tell ourselves we're not special because we weren't born with it, which is a great excuse.” quote by Nathan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/519/nathan-hill-11918_life_everyone-loves-a-prodigy-prodigies-get-u_409704.jpg)
![“Things sacred should not only be touched with the hands, but unviolated in thought. [Lat., Res sacros non modo manibus attingi, sed ne cogitatione quidem violari fas fuit.]” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/deb/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_hands_things-sacred-should-not-only-be-touched_11960.jpg)
