--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To those who suspect that intellect is a…" description: "\"“To those who suspect that intellect is a subversive force in society, it will not do to reply that intellect is really a safe, bland, and emollient th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/richard-hofstadter-12288_anti-intellectualism_to-those-who-suspect-that-intellect-is-a_2606603.jpg" --- # To those who suspect that intellect is a subversive force… ![“To those who suspect that intellect is a subversive force in society, it will not do to reply that intellect is really a safe, bland, and emollient thing. In a certain sense, the suspicious Tories and militant philistines are right: intellect is dangerous. Left free, there is nothing it will not…” quote by Richard Hofstadter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/richard-hofstadter-12288_anti-intellectualism_to-those-who-suspect-that-intellect-is-a_2606603.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/richard-hofstadter-12288_anti-intellectualism_to-those-who-suspect-that-intellect-is-a_2606603.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/richard-hofstadter-12288_anti-intellectualism_to-those-who-suspect-that-intellect-is-a_2606603.jpg) > ““To those who suspect that intellect is a subversive force in society, it will not do to reply that intellect is really a safe, bland, and emollient thing. In a certain sense, the suspicious Tories and militant philistines are right: intellect is dangerous. Left free, there is nothing it will not reconsider, analyze, throw into question. "Let us admit the case of the conservative," John Dewey once wrote. "If we once start thinking no one can guarantee what will be the outcome, except that many objects, ends and institutions will be surely doomed. Every thinker puts some portion of an apparently stable world in peril, and no one can wholly predict what will emerge in its place." Further, there is no way of guaranteeing that an intellectual class will be discreet and restrained in the use of its influence; the only assurance that can be given to any community is that it will be far worse off if it denies the free uses of the power of intellect than if it permits them. To be sure, intellectuals, contrary to the fantasies of cultural vigilantes, are hardly ever subversive of a society as a whole. But intellect is always on the move against something: some oppression, fraud, illusion, dogma, or interest is constantly falling under the scrutiny of the intellectual class and becoming the object of exposure, indignation, or ridicule.”” [Richard Hofstadter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hofstadter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intellect challenges established beliefs and power structures, exposing oppression, fraud, and dogma, and its free use is essential for a healthy society. **In simple terms:** Intellect questions power and reveals truth. Key Takeaway Protect intellectual freedom. Themes critical thinking power truth society freedom Mood thoughtful analytical cautious Type philosophical critical inspirational When to use this quote - journalism - education - policy making - activism - public discourse Key Concepts philosophy political theory social critique Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance intellectual critique with stability? - What safeguards protect intellectual freedom? A Different Perspective Intellect can be misused or become elitist, limiting its benefits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anti-intellectualism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-intellectualism/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Intellectualism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectualism/) [Intellectuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectuals/) [Radicalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radicalism/) ## Related quotes > [It is the historic glory of the intellectual class of the West in modern times that, of all the classes which could be called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hofstadter/it-is-the-historic-glory-of-the-intellectual-class-of-the-west-in/) [Richard Hofstadter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hofstadter/) > [You see, the people that have a point of view and have an opinion and have some intellect are dangerous in the film community…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/you-see-the-people-that-have-a-point-of-view-and-have-an-opinion-and/) [Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) > [“You are an animal of nature, fully endowed with hearing, sight, intellect, and dangerous defenses. 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Left free, there is nothing it will not reconsider, analyze, throw into question. \"Let us admit the case of the conservative,\" John Dewey once wrote. \"If we once start thinking no one can guarantee what will be the outcome, except that many objects, ends and institutions will be surely doomed. Every thinker puts some portion of an apparently stable world in peril, and no one can wholly predict what will emerge in its place.\" Further, there is no way of guaranteeing that an intellectual class will be discreet and restrained in the use of its influence; the only assurance that can be given to any community is that it will be far worse off if it denies the free uses of the power of intellect than if it permits them. To be sure, intellectuals, contrary to the fantasies of cultural vigilantes, are hardly ever subversive of a society as a whole. 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