Language Quote by Richard Mitchell
““Words never fail. We hear them, we read them; they enter into the mind and become part of us for as long as we shall live. Who speaks reason to his fellowmen bestows it upon them. Who mouths inanity disorders thought for all who listen. There must be some minimum allowable dose of inanity beyond which the mind cannot remain reasonable. Irrationality, like buried chemical waste, sooner or later must seep into all the tissues of thought.””
About This Quote
Source Book: “The Dream of Reason” (1996)
Language shapes thought; too much nonsense can corrupt rational minds, like toxic waste seeping into thought.
In simple terms: Excessive nonsense harms rational thinking.
Key Takeaway
Guard against irrational influences.
Themes
language
reason
irrationality
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- education
- media consumption
- public discourse
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
information overload
Questions to Reflect On
- How does language influence belief?
- What safeguards protect rational thought?
A Different Perspective
Not all nonsense is harmful; context matters.
