--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: faith in the eventual supremacy of reason…" description: "\"“faith in the eventual supremacy of reason has become so timid that we dare not enter our convictions in the open lists, to win or lose. Such fears as ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd7/nelson-algren-11153_confidence_faith-in-the-eventual-supremacy-of-reaso_753700.jpg" --- # faith in the eventual supremacy of reason has become so… ![“faith in the eventual supremacy of reason has become so timid that we dare not enter our convictions in the open lists, to win or lose. Such fears as these are a solvent that can eat out the cement that binds the stones together; they may in the end subject us to a despotism as evil as any that we…” quote by Nelson Algren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd7/nelson-algren-11153_confidence_faith-in-the-eventual-supremacy-of-reaso_753700.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd7/nelson-algren-11153_confidence_faith-in-the-eventual-supremacy-of-reaso_753700.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd7/nelson-algren-11153_confidence_faith-in-the-eventual-supremacy-of-reaso_753700.jpg) > ““faith in the eventual supremacy of reason has become so timid that we dare not enter our convictions in the open lists, to win or lose. Such fears as these are a solvent that can eat out the cement that binds the stones together; they may in the end subject us to a despotism as evil as any that we dread; and they can be allayed only in so far as we refuse to proceed on suspicion, and trust one another until we have tangible ground for misgiving. The mutual confidence on which all else depends can be maintained only by an open mind and a brave reliance upon free discussion. I do not say that”” [Nelson Algren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-algren/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reason’s dominance is feared, leading to secrecy and distrust; open dialogue and mutual trust are needed to prevent tyranny. **In simple terms:** Fear of reason causes secrecy; open discussion builds trust. Key Takeaway Encourage honest, open conversation. Themes trust fear freedom dialogue tyranny Mood concerned hopeful Type philosophical political motivational When to use this quote - political debates - team meetings - community forums - academic seminars Key Concepts philosophy political theory social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster genuine trust in contentious discussions? - What safeguards prevent open dialogue from being co-opted? A Different Perspective Open dialogue can be hindered by power imbalances and social pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Open mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-mind/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) [Win or lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win-or-lose/) ## Related quotes > [I have overlived the generation with which mutual labors & perils begat mutual confidence and influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-have-overlived-the-generation-with-which-mutual-labors-perils-begat/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Success in business implies optimism, mutual confidence, and fair play. A business man must hold a high opinion of the worth of what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rh-cabell/success-in-business-implies-optimism-mutual-confidence-and-fair-play/) RH Cabell > [No farmer-sportsman group is stronger than the ties of mutual confidence and enthusiasm which bind its members.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/no-farmer-sportsman-group-is-stronger-than-the-ties-of-mutual/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [The world's greatest need . . . is mutual confidence. No human being ever knows all the secrets of another's heart. Yet there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/the-world-s-greatest-need-is-mutual-confidence-no-human-being-ever/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [Sensual pleasure passes and vanishes, but the friendship between us, the mutual confidence, the delight of the heart, the enchantment of the soul, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/sensual-pleasure-passes-and-vanishes-but-the-friendship-between-us/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“Mutual confidence is the pillar of friendship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mutual-confidence-is-the-pillar-of-friendship/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The mutual confidence on which all else depends can be maintained only by an open mind and a brave reliance upon free discussion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/the-mutual-confidence-on-which-all-else-depends-can-be-maintained/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) > [“she felt there was between them an unexpected mutual confidence, confidence of the kind that could spring up between two strangers who found themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scott/she-felt-there-was-between-them-an-unexpected-mutual-confidence/) [Paul Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scott/) > [We do not intend to part from the Americans and we do not intend to be satellites. I am sure they do not want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-macmillan/we-do-not-intend-to-part-from-the-americans-and-we-do-not-intend-to/) [Harold MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-macmillan/) > [“…trust requires much more than affection; it depends on mutual confidence—strength, not niceness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-constantine-croke/trust-requires-much-more-than-affection-it-depends-on-mutual/) Vicki Constantine Croke > [That in affairs of very considerable importance men should deal with one another with satisfaction of mind, and mutual confidence, they must receive competent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-barrow/that-in-affairs-of-very-considerable-importance-men-should-deal-with/) [Isaac Barrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-barrow/) > [By mutual confidence and mutual aid - great deeds are done, and great discoveries made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/by-mutual-confidence-and-mutual-aid-great-deeds-are-done-and-great/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“Strategic trust” is a term that evades precise definition, but in my view, it refers to an evolving sense of mutual confidence between nations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sbyudhoyono/strategic-trust-is-a-term-that-evades-precise-definition-but-in-my/) [SBYudhoyono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sbyudhoyono/) > [A man who believes that all things are possible, approaches the unconventional with an open mind and a fearless heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-who-believes-that-all-things-are-possible-approaches-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Win or lose or draw, you always go back and critique your performance and say you could have done things better. Even if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/win-or-lose-or-draw-you-always-go-back-and-critique-your-performance/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) ## More by Nelson Algren > [When we get more houses than we can live in, more cars than we can ride in, more food than we can eat ourselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-algren/when-we-get-more-houses-than-we-can-live-in-more-cars-than-we-can/) [Nelson Algren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-algren/) > [“For way down there, in a shot glass's false bottom, everything was bound to turn out fine after all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-algren/for-way-down-there-in-a-shot-glass-s-false-bottom-everything-was/) [Nelson Algren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-algren/) > [Chicago is an October sort of city even in spring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-algren/chicago-is-an-october-sort-of-city-even-in-spring/) [Nelson Algren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-algren/) > [“Without hesitation, Dove chose the nowhere road. For that was the only place, in his heart of hearts, that he really wanted to go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-algren/without-hesitation-dove-chose-the-nowhere-road-for-that-was-the-only/) [Nelson Algren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-algren/) > [“Big-shot town, small-shot town, jet-propelled old-fashioned town, by old-world hands with new-world tools built into a place whose heartbeat carries farther than its shout,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-algren/big-shot-town-small-shot-town-jet-propelled-old-fashioned-town-by-old/) [Nelson Algren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-algren/) > [Never eat in a place called 'Mom's'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-algren/never-eat-in-a-place-called-mom-s/) [Nelson Algren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-algren/) > [“Nor all your piety nor all your preaching, nor all your crusades nor all your threats can stop one girl from going on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-algren/nor-all-your-piety-nor-all-your-preaching-nor-all-your-crusades-nor/) [Nelson Algren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-algren/) > [“A certain ruthlessness and a sense of alienation from society is as essential to creative writing as it is to armed robbery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-algren/a-certain-ruthlessness-and-a-sense-of-alienation-from-society-is-as/) [Nelson Algren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-algren/) > [Never sleep with someone whose troubles are worse than your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-algren/never-sleep-with-someone-whose-troubles-are-worse-than-your-own/) [Nelson Algren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-algren/) > [“If you feel you belong to things as they are, you won’t hold up anyone in the alley no matter how hungry you may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-algren/if-you-feel-you-belong-to-things-as-they-are-you-won-t-hold-up-anyone/) [Nelson Algren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-algren/) > [Literature is made upon any occasion that a challenge is put to the legal apparatus by conscience in touch with humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-algren/literature-is-made-upon-any-occasion-that-a-challenge-is-put-to-the/) [Nelson Algren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-algren/) > [“And when I read one of those scapegoat pieces about the "viciousness" of drug pushers, and extolling the basic humanitarianism of the nark-squad hero,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-algren/and-when-i-read-one-of-those-scapegoat-pieces-about-the-viciousness/) [Nelson Algren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-algren/) > [There is no way of being a creative writer in America without being a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-algren/there-is-no-way-of-being-a-creative-writer-in-america-without-being-a/) [Nelson Algren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-algren/) > [“If Jesus Christ treated me like you do, I’d drive in the nails myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-algren/if-jesus-christ-treated-me-like-you-do-i-d-drive-in-the-nails-myself/) [Nelson Algren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-algren/) > [To literary critics a book is assumed to be guilty until it proves itself innocent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-algren/to-literary-critics-a-book-is-assumed-to-be-guilty-until-it-proves/) [Nelson Algren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-algren/) [Explore all 60 Nelson Algren quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-algren/) ## More Confidence quotes > [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [I was just confident my work was good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bunny-yeager/i-was-just-confident-my-work-was-good/) [Bunny Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bunny-yeager/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [My friend made me a leather dress for the MTV awards. It gives you confidence, wearing something you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/my-friend-made-me-a-leather-dress-for-the-mtv-awards-it-gives-you/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [Confidence comes from cutting yourself some slack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/confidence-comes-from-cutting-yourself-some-slack/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [I would rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-ball/i-would-rather-regret-the-things-that-i-have-done-than-the-things/) [Lucille Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-ball/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [Get to know yourself well enough to not only expect, but also control, your response to the unexpected challenges in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/get-to-know-yourself-well-enough-to-not-only-expect-but-also-control/) Senoraroy > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I look for someone who has confidence. Also someone whose energetic, cause I'm NOT that energetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-look-for-someone-who-has-confidence-also-someone-whose-energetic/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [Why shouldn't I be confident? I'm well educated, I can deliver a line, and I have more than three expressions. That's good right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/why-shouldn-t-i-be-confident-i-m-well-educated-i-can-deliver-a-line/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) > [I was very confident on the stage, and I stood out in a red gown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-johnson/i-was-very-confident-on-the-stage-and-i-stood-out-in-a-red-gown/) [Nicole Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-johnson/) > [If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-go-to-any-nunnery-and-ask-them-what-the-main-obstacle-is-they/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) [Browse all 11,290 Confidence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“faith in the eventual supremacy of reason has become so timid that we dare not enter our convictions in the open lists, to win or lose. Such fears as these are a solvent that can eat out the cement that binds the stones together; they may in the end subject us to a despotism as evil as any that we dread; and they can be allayed only in so far as we refuse to proceed on suspicion, and trust one another until we have tangible ground for misgiving. The mutual confidence on which all else depends can be maintained only by an open mind and a brave reliance upon free discussion. 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