Believe Quote by Rebecca West
“... when the Spaniards persecuted heretics they may have been crude, but they were not being unreasonable or unpractical. They were at least wiser than the people of to-day who pretend that it does not matter what a man believes, as who should say that the flavour and digestibility of a pudding will have nothing to do with its ingredients.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Religious Intolerance, 1930
Historical persecution of heretics was crude but not irrational; modern intolerance over beliefs is similarly unreasonable, akin to judging a pudding by flavor alone.
In simple terms: Past intolerance was crude yet logical; modern intolerance is absurd.
Key Takeaway
Challenge irrational belief judgments.
Themes
tolerance
history
logic
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
historical
When to use this quote
- academic lectures
- public debates
- media commentary
Key Concepts
philosophical reasoning
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance respect for belief with rational critique?
- What lessons can history teach about intolerance?
A Different Perspective
Historical context may differ, limiting direct comparison.
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