--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yet, advice on what we can do is usually…" description: "\"“Yet, advice on what we can do is usually futile—for we will do nothing except applaud the speaker, accept those ideas of his we already agree with, an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/sydney-j-harris-1578_advice-usually_yet-advice-on-what-we-can-do-is-usually_723910.png" --- # Yet, advice on what we can do is usually futile—for we… ![“Yet, advice on what we can do is usually futile—for we will do nothing except applaud the speaker, accept those ideas of his we already agree with, and reject those ideas that run counter to our prejudices.” quote by Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/sydney-j-harris-1578_advice-usually_yet-advice-on-what-we-can-do-is-usually_723910.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/sydney-j-harris-1578_advice-usually_yet-advice-on-what-we-can-do-is-usually_723910.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/sydney-j-harris-1578_advice-usually_yet-advice-on-what-we-can-do-is-usually_723910.png) > ““Yet, advice on what we can do is usually futile—for we will do nothing except applaud the speaker, accept those ideas of his we already agree with, and reject those ideas that run counter to our prejudices.”” [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often listen only to confirm their biases, ignoring useful advice. **In simple terms:** We hear only what we already believe. Key Takeaway Seek diverse viewpoints actively. Themes bias communication critical thinking Mood reflective critical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - political debates - team meetings - media consumption - public policy discussions Key Concepts confirmation bias echo chambers Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize when you’re only hearing what you agree with? - What steps can you take to challenge your own prejudices? A Different Perspective People may still resist change despite exposure to new ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [I don't abandon stories once I've started working on them. Once I sit down and start a story, I'll be damned if I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/i-don-t-abandon-stories-once-i-ve-started-working-on-them-once-i-sit/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [I will continue to reject ideas that have no place in the Republican Party or the U.S. Congress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/i-will-continue-to-reject-ideas-that-have-no-place-in-the-republican/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [“And here, according to Trout, was the reason human beings could not reject ideas because they were bad: "Ideas on Earth were badges of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-here-according-to-trout-was-the-reason-human-beings-could-not/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [If you are truly on the left, if you reject ideas of power and hierarchy, what you want is equality. Otherwise, it won't work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/if-you-are-truly-on-the-left-if-you-reject-ideas-of-power-and/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [My idea of an acceptable person is someone that is ready to accept my ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/my-idea-of-an-acceptable-person-is-someone-that-is-ready-to-accept-my/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Despite the fact that I had a writing background, they didn't want to accept whatever ideas I had as a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-amos/despite-the-fact-that-i-had-a-writing-background-they-didn-t-want-to/) [John Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-amos/) > [Where if you're in a universe where you have to accept ideas, you'll never know if your partner wanted the garbage you're handing them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-johnstone/where-if-you-re-in-a-universe-where-you-have-to-accept-ideas-you-ll/) [Keith Johnstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-johnstone/) > [People will accept your ideas much more readily if you tell them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/people-will-accept-your-ideas-much-more-readily-if-you-tell-them/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [People will accept your ideas much more readily if you tell them that Benjamin Franklin said it first. Perhaps it is impossible for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/people-will-accept-your-ideas-much-more-readily-if-you-tell-them-that/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [“It is unwise to force others to accept your ideas when you do not understand them yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/it-is-unwise-to-force-others-to-accept-your-ideas-when-you-do-not/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [We must use our judgement and discernment in deciding what ideas to accept and what ideas to reject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/we-must-use-our-judgement-and-discernment-in-deciding-what-ideas-to/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [If you want others to accept your ideas, simply explaining the ideas behind logic and arguments isn't enough - you need to see and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/if-you-want-others-to-accept-your-ideas-simply-explaining-the-ideas/) Senoraroy > [Good advice usually works best when preceded by a bad scare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-batt/good-advice-usually-works-best-when-preceded-by-a-bad-scare/) Al Batt > [The ones who give the best advice are usually the ones with the most problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhay/the-ones-who-give-the-best-advice-are-usually-the-ones-with-the-most/) [ABhay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhay/) > [Those who give good advice are usually the most insane messes of them all. Just sayin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suman-rai/those-who-give-good-advice-are-usually-the-most-insane-messes-of-them/) [Suman Rai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suman-rai/) ## More by Sydney J. Harris > [This is a lesson mankind has not yet learned. We identify, and stratify, and treat persons largely on the basis of their accidental (physical)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/this-is-a-lesson-mankind-has-not-yet-learned-we-identify-and-stratify/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Character is something you forge for yourself; temperament is something you are born with and can only slightly modify.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/character-is-something-you-forge-for-yourself-temperament-is/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Middle Age is that perplexing time of life when we hear two voices calling us, one saying, 'Why not?' and the other, 'Why bother?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/middle-age-is-that-perplexing-time-of-life-when-we-hear-two-voices/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [The profound immoralities of our time are cruelty, indifference, injustice and the use of others as means rather than ends in themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/the-profound-immoralities-of-our-time-are-cruelty-indifference/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Marriages we regard as the happiest are those in which each of the partners believes he or she got the best of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/marriages-we-regard-as-the-happiest-are-those-in-which-each-of-the/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [“...it calls for deciding things on their own merit, not because you read it or were told it or grew up believing it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/it-calls-for-deciding-things-on-their-own-merit-not-because-you-read/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Ignorance per se is not nearly as dangerous as ignorance of ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/ignorance-per-se-is-not-nearly-as-dangerous-as-ignorance-of-ignorance/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Patriotism is proud of a country's virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/patriotism-is-proud-of-a-country-s-virtues-and-eager-to-correct-its/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [A cynic is not merely one who reads bitter lessons from the past, his is also one who is permanently disappointed in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/a-cynic-is-not-merely-one-who-reads-bitter-lessons-from-the-past-his/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Time is love, above all else. It is the most precious commodity in the world and should be lavished on those we care most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/time-is-love-above-all-else-it-is-the-most-precious-commodity-in-the/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Just about the only interruption we don't object to is applause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/just-about-the-only-interruption-we-don-t-object-to-is-applause/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [“The cynic is goodhearted beneath his facade, whereas the sentimentalist is flint-hearted beneath his.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/the-cynic-is-goodhearted-beneath-his-facade-whereas-the/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Any philosophy that can be put in a nutshell belongs there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/any-philosophy-that-can-be-put-in-a-nutshell-belongs-there/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [“Like all persecuted minority groups, they strike back by forming cabals, by “taking over” certain spheres of activity (in the arts, for instance), and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/like-all-persecuted-minority-groups-they-strike-back-by-forming/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Intolerance is the most socially acceptable form of egotism, for it permits us to assume superiority without personal boasting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/intolerance-is-the-most-socially-acceptable-form-of-egotism-for-it/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) [Explore all 226 Sydney J. Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) ## More Advice Usually quotes > [Those who give good advice are usually the most insane messes of them all. Just sayin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suman-rai/those-who-give-good-advice-are-usually-the-most-insane-messes-of-them/) [Suman Rai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suman-rai/) > [The ones who give the best advice are usually the ones with the most problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhay/the-ones-who-give-the-best-advice-are-usually-the-ones-with-the-most/) [ABhay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhay/) > [Good advice usually works best when preceded by a bad scare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-batt/good-advice-usually-works-best-when-preceded-by-a-bad-scare/) Al Batt > [“Unsolicited advice is usually more about the needs of the giver than the receiver.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/unsolicited-advice-is-usually-more-about-the-needs-of-the-giver-than/) [Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/) > [The ones who give the best advice, are usually the ones who have the most problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-ones-who-give-the-best-advice-are-usually-the-ones-who-have-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The trouble with good advice is that it usually interferes with our plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/croft-m-pentz/the-trouble-with-good-advice-is-that-it-usually-interferes-with-our/) [Croft M. Pentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/croft-m-pentz/) > [When we ask for advice, we are usually looking for an accomplice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/when-we-ask-for-advice-we-are-usually-looking-for-an-accomplice/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [When we feel a strong desire to thrust our advice upon others, it is usually because we suspect their weakness; but we ought rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/when-we-feel-a-strong-desire-to-thrust-our-advice-upon-others-it-is/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Actually, I think you have to know that whatever advice you give, they may not take it. The priority should be on keeping the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/actually-i-think-you-have-to-know-that-whatever-advice-you-give-they/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [When a man asks your advice, he usually tells you just how he expects you to decide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/when-a-man-asks-your-advice-he-usually-tells-you-just-how-he-expects/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [The trouble with advice is that it's usually something you don't want to hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/the-trouble-with-advice-is-that-it-s-usually-something-you-don-t-want/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [In an emergency, you rarely get one consistent piece of advice. You usually have two or three people with two or three different ideas.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/in-an-emergency-you-rarely-get-one-consistent-piece-of-advice-you/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [The ones who usually give the best advice, usually have the most problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/the-ones-who-usually-give-the-best-advice-usually-have-the-most/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [When we ask advice, we are usually looking for an accomplice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-we-ask-advice-we-are-usually-looking-for-an-accomplice/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The people sensible enough to give good advice are usually sensible enough to give none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eden-phillpotts/the-people-sensible-enough-to-give-good-advice-are-usually-sensible/) [Eden Phillpotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eden-phillpotts/) Browse all 17 Advice Usually quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Yet, advice on what we can do is usually futile—for we will do nothing except applaud the speaker, accept those ideas of his we already agree with, and reject those ideas that run counter to our prejudices.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sydney J. 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