Feeling pain Quote by Steven Pinker
““Why should the spread of ideas and people result in reforms that lower violence? There are several pathways. The most obvious is a debunking of ignorance and superstition. A connected and educated populace, at least in aggregate and over the long run, is bound to be disabused of poisonous beliefs, such as that members of other races and ethnicities are innately avaricious or perfidious; that economic and military misfortunes are caused by the treachery of ethnic minorities; that women don't mind to be raped; that children must be beaten to be socialized; that people choose to be homosexual as part of a morally degenerate lifestyle; that animals are incapable of feeling pain. The recent debunking of beliefs that invite or tolerate violence call to mind Voltaire's quip that those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Enlightenment Now, 2018
Education and open exchange reduce violence by dispelling harmful myths.
In simple terms: Knowledge counters violence.
Key Takeaway
Promote education and dialogue.
Themes
violence
education
misinformation
human rights
progress
Mood
hopeful
serious
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- schools
- media campaigns
- policy debates
Key Concepts
enlightenment
rationalism
social change
Questions to Reflect On
- What myths persist in your community?
- How can you foster critical thinking?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑seated beliefs can be slow and resistant.
