Men Quote by Sydney Smith
“Never try to reason the prejudice out of a man. It was not reasoned into him, and cannot be reasoned out.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Prejudice of Reason (1805) by Sydney Smith
Prejudice is rooted in emotion, not logic, and cannot be removed by rational argument alone.
In simple terms: Prejudice cannot be fixed by reasoning.
Key Takeaway
Address prejudice through empathy and dialogue, not just logic.
Themes
prejudice
reason
emotion
human nature
communication
Mood
critical
empathetic
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- conflict resolution
- education
- community building
Key Concepts
psychology
social bias
rationality
Questions to Reflect On
- How can empathy change entrenched views?
- What strategies complement reason in reducing prejudice?
A Different Perspective
Reason alone may not overcome deep‑seated biases.
![“[T]he 47th proposition in Euclid might now be voted down with as much ease as any proposition in politics; and therefore if Lord Hawkesbury hates the abstract truths of science as much as he hates concrete truth in human affairs, now is his time for getting rid of the multiplication table, and…” quote by Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/709/sydney-smith-6523_abstract_t-he-47th-proposition-in-euclid-might-no_463551.jpg)
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