Books Quote by Thomas de Quincey
““To suppose a reader thoroughly indifferent to Kant, is to suppose him thoroughly unintellectual; and, therefore, though in reality he should happen not to regard him with interest, it is one of the fictions of courtesy to presume that he does.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Confessions of an English Opium-Eater, 1821
Disregarding Kant’s philosophy is seen as intellectual negligence, yet many pretend indifference out of social politeness.
In simple terms: Ignoring Kant is considered uncultured, but people feign indifference to be polite.
Key Takeaway
Recognize genuine intellectual engagement over polite pretense.
Themes
philosophy
intellectual humility
social etiquette
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- academic discussions
- social gatherings
- online debates
- classroom settings
Key Concepts
Kantian ethics
courtesy
intellectual honesty
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you truly understand Kant before dismissing him?
- Can politeness coexist with honest critique?
A Different Perspective
Some may genuinely find Kant irrelevant, making the criticism too broad.
![“[Dostoyevsky] eloquently proves that heartless ideas are often a source of immorality: they bring with them destructiveness, hatred, cynicism, and misanthropy. The novelist also carefully examines moral indifference and corruption which leads him to the questions: “What if reason takes the side of…” quote by George L. Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c87/george-l-kline-239544_dostoevsky_dostoyevsky-eloquently-proves-that-heart_53378.jpg)
