--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is nothing so absurd or ridiculous…" description: "\"There is nothing so absurd or ridiculous that has not at some time been said by some philosopher. Fontenelle says he would undertake to persuade the wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9f/oliver-goldsmith-772_absurd_there-is-nothing-so-absurd-or-ridiculous_1618011.jpg" --- # There is nothing so absurd or ridiculous that has not at… ![“There is nothing so absurd or ridiculous that has not at some time been said by some philosopher. Fontenelle says he would undertake to persuade the whole public of readers to believe that the sun was neither the cause of light or heat, if he could only get six philosophers on his side.” quote by Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9f/oliver-goldsmith-772_absurd_there-is-nothing-so-absurd-or-ridiculous_1618011.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9f/oliver-goldsmith-772_absurd_there-is-nothing-so-absurd-or-ridiculous_1618011.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9f/oliver-goldsmith-772_absurd_there-is-nothing-so-absurd-or-ridiculous_1618011.jpg) > “There is nothing so absurd or ridiculous that has not at some time been said by some philosopher. Fontenelle says he would undertake to persuade the whole public of readers to believe that the sun was neither the cause of light or heat, if he could only get six philosophers on his side.” [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Philosophers often propose ideas that seem absurd until accepted; truth can be stranger than fiction. **In simple terms:** Philosophers sometimes say crazy things that later become accepted. Key Takeaway Stay open to unconventional ideas. Themes philosophy skepticism history of ideas intellectual humility Mood curious reflective skeptical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic discussion - creative brainstorming - critical thinking Key Concepts paradoxes scientific revolutions cultural shifts Questions to Reflect On - What current "absurd" ideas might become truth? - How do we balance skepticism with openness? A Different Perspective Ideas once ridiculed may lack resistance, challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurd/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Fontenelle Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fontenelle-says-230769/) [Heat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heat/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Philosopher Fontenelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher-fontenelle-230768/) [Philosophers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophers/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader/) [Ridiculous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridiculous/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-philosopher-230770/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [Six](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/six/) [Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [There is nothing so absurd or ridiculous that has not at some time been said by some philosopher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/there-is-nothing-so-absurd-or-ridiculous-that-has-not-at-some-time-2/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [There is nothing so strange and so unbelievable that it has not been said by one philosopher or another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/there-is-nothing-so-strange-and-so-unbelievable-that-it-has-not-been/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [“Djali trotted along behind them, so overjoyed at seeing Gringoire again that she constantly made him stumble by affectionately putting her horns between his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/djali-trotted-along-behind-them-so-overjoyed-at-seeing-gringoire/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Finality is death. Perfection is finality. Nothing is perfect. There are lumps in it, said the Philosopher.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-stephens/finality-is-death-perfection-is-finality-nothing-is-perfect-there-are-2/) [James Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-stephens/) > [“That's life" said the philosopher each time he was almost laid prostrate, "It's often our best friends who make us fall”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/that-s-life-said-the-philosopher-each-time-he-was-almost-laid/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“is not just any bint,” he said. “This is a philosopher-queen, a sultana . . .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-willow-wilson/is-not-just-any-bint-he-said-this-is-a-philosopher-queen-a-sultana/) [G. Willow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-willow-wilson/) > [One cannot conceive anything so strange and so implausible that it has not already been said by one philosopher or another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/one-cannot-conceive-anything-so-strange-and-so-implausible-that-it/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [“I recall the story of the philosopher and the theologian... The two were engaged in disputation and the theologian used the old quip about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-huxley/i-recall-the-story-of-the-philosopher-and-the-theologian-the-two-were/) [Julian Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-huxley/) > [A Small But Very Meaningful Thought Said By A Philosopher Nothing Is Interesting In Life. If You Are Not Interested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/a-small-but-very-meaningful-thought-said-by-a-philosopher-nothing-is/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [Men are not philosophers, but are rather very foolish children, who, by reason of their partiality, see everything in the most absurd manner, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/men-are-not-philosophers-but-are-rather-very-foolish-children-who-by/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Philosophy can add to our happiness in no other manner but by diminishing our misery; it should not pretend to increase our present stock,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/philosophy-can-add-to-our-happiness-in-no-other-manner-but-by/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [For they, the philosophers, were considered teachers of right living, which is far more excellent, since to speak well belongs only to a few,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lactantius/for-they-the-philosophers-were-considered-teachers-of-right-living/) [Lactantius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lactantius/) > [If experiments are performed thousands of times at all seasons and in every place without once producing the effects mentioned by your philosophers, poets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/if-experiments-are-performed-thousands-of-times-at-all-seasons-and-in/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [It will sometimes strike a scientific man that the philosophers have been less intent on finding out what the facts are, than on inquiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sanders-peirce/it-will-sometimes-strike-a-scientific-man-that-the-philosophers-have/) [Charles Sanders Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sanders-peirce/) > [“Mr. Pickwick was a philosopher, but philosophers are only men in armour, after all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/mr-pickwick-was-a-philosopher-but-philosophers-are-only-men-in-armour/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) ## More by Oliver Goldsmith > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [How happy he who crowns in shades like these, A youth of labour with an age of ease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/how-happy-he-who-crowns-in-shades-like-these-a-youth-of-labour-with/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [One man is born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and the other with a wooden ladle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/one-man-is-born-with-a-silver-spoon-in-his-mouth-and-the-other-with-a/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [He cast off his friends as a huntsman his pack, For he knew when he pleas'd he could whistle them back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/he-cast-off-his-friends-as-a-huntsman-his-pack-for-he-knew-when-he/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Even children follow'd with endearing wile, And pluck'd his gown, to share the good man's smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/even-children-follow-d-with-endearing-wile-and-pluck-d-his-gown-to/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [The premises being thus settled, I proceed to observe that the concatenation of self-existence, proceeding in a reciprocal duplicate ratio, naturally produces a problematical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-premises-being-thus-settled-i-proceed-to-observe-that-the/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway, and fools, who came to scoff, remained to pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/truth-from-his-lips-prevailed-with-double-sway-and-fools-who-came-to/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Politics resemble religion; attempting to divest either of ceremony is the most certain mode of bringing either into contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/politics-resemble-religion-attempting-to-divest-either-of-ceremony-is/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [To what fortuitous occurrence do we not owe every pleasure and convenience of our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/to-what-fortuitous-occurrence-do-we-not-owe-every-pleasure-and/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Every acknowledgment of gratitude is a circumstance of humiliation; and some are found to submit to frequent mortifications of this kind, proclaiming what obligations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/every-acknowledgment-of-gratitude-is-a-circumstance-of-humiliation/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [ \[T\]here are depths of thousands of miles which are hidden from our inquiry. The only tidings we have from those unfathomable regions are by… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/t-here-are-depths-of-thousands-of-miles-which-are-hidden-from-our/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Like the bee, we should make our industry our amusement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/like-the-bee-we-should-make-our-industry-our-amusement/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Age, that lessens the enjoyment of life, increases our desire of living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/age-that-lessens-the-enjoyment-of-life-increases-our-desire-of-living/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Thus let me hold thee to my heart, And every care resign: And we shall never, never part, My life-my all that's mine!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/thus-let-me-hold-thee-to-my-heart-and-every-care-resign-and-we-shall/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Here lies David Garrick, describe me who can, An abridgment of all that was pleasant in man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/here-lies-david-garrick-describe-me-who-can-an-abridgment-of-all-that/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) [Explore all 375 Oliver Goldsmith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) ## More Absurd quotes > [“It seem absurd to me that they don't know, haven't felt any change or tremor, even as my life has been completely turned upside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/it-seem-absurd-to-me-that-they-don-t-know-haven-t-felt-any-change-or/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [When a person’s tongue is extensively wrong, it is absurd, no less than unscriptural, to say that their heart is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/when-a-person-s-tongue-is-extensively-wrong-it-is-absurd-no-less-than/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is human nature to think wisely and to act in an absurd fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/it-is-human-nature-to-think-wisely-and-to-act-in-an-absurd-fashion/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [It is a dangerous and fateful presumption, besides the absurd temerity that it implies, to disdain what we do not comprehend. For after you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-dangerous-and-fateful-presumption-besides-the-absurd-temerity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I thought to myself: if it’s true that every person has a star in the sky, mine must be distant, dim, and absurd. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadegh-hedayat/i-thought-to-myself-if-it-s-true-that-every-person-has-a-star-in-the/) [Sadegh Hedayat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadegh-hedayat/) > [If, indeed, a firearm were more dangerous to its possessors than to potential aggressors, would it not make sense for the government to arm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/if-indeed-a-firearm-were-more-dangerous-to-its-possessors-than-to/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [“You were torturing a cat," she says. "With a freaking prod." "A prod I built myself in metal shop," he says. 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But it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-workman-of-today-works-every-day-in-his-life-at-the-same-tasks/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I was once part of a Christmas cabaret. I sang 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.' I tap-danced. I had a ten-gallon hat. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/i-was-once-part-of-a-christmas-cabaret-i-sang-i-saw-mommy-kissing/) [Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/) > [Solitude produces originality, bold and astonishing beauty, poetry. But solitude also produces perverseness, the disproportianate, the absurd and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/solitude-produces-originality-bold-and-astonishing-beauty-poetry-but/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) [Browse all 1,644 Absurd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurd/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is nothing so absurd or ridiculous that has not at some time been said by some philosopher. 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