--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do not claim to have any developed or…" description: "\"I do not claim to have any developed or sophisticated views in political philosophy, but I think that one of the lessons of the last few hundred years ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1b/tim-crane-19350_fanaticism_i-do-not-claim-to-have-any-developed-or_2351366.jpg" --- # I do not claim to have any developed or sophisticated… ![“I do not claim to have any developed or sophisticated views in political philosophy, but I think that one of the lessons of the last few hundred years of history is that the greatest threat to human prosperity and well-being is fanaticism and intolerance, even in the name of apparently laudable…” quote by Tim Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1b/tim-crane-19350_fanaticism_i-do-not-claim-to-have-any-developed-or_2351366.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1b/tim-crane-19350_fanaticism_i-do-not-claim-to-have-any-developed-or_2351366.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1b/tim-crane-19350_fanaticism_i-do-not-claim-to-have-any-developed-or_2351366.jpg) > “I do not claim to have any developed or sophisticated views in political philosophy, but I think that one of the lessons of the last few hundred years of history is that the greatest threat to human prosperity and well-being is fanaticism and intolerance, even in the name of apparently laudable goals.” [Tim Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-crane/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fanaticism and intolerance threaten prosperity, even when cloaked in noble goals. **In simple terms:** Intolerance harms society, even under good pretenses. Key Takeaway Promote tolerance and critical thinking. Themes politics ethics society Mood analytical concerned Type academic ethical When to use this quote - policy making - community building - education - activism Key Concepts philosophy social psychology Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can limit fanaticism? - How do we distinguish noble goals from harmful means? A Different Perspective Balancing security and freedom is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fanaticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fanaticism/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Intolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intolerance/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-philosophy/) [Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) ## Related quotes > [The greatness of every mighty organization embodying an idea in this world lies in the religious fanaticism and intolerance with which, fanatically convinced of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-greatness-of-every-mighty-organization-embodying-an-idea-in-this/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [“The revolutionary spirit is mighty convenient in this, that it frees one from all scruples as regards ideas. Its hard absolute optimism is repulsive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-revolutionary-spirit-is-mighty-convenient-in-this-that-it-frees/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [Fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/fools-and-fanatics-are-always-so-certain-of-themselves/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Lovers of freedom are, of course, also by and large lovers of tolerance and permissiveness. Being tolerant and permissive, especially toward others, but even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/lovers-of-freedom-are-of-course-also-by-and-large-lovers-of-tolerance/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [It's possible to fight intolerance, stupidity and fanaticism when they come separately. When you get all three together it's probably wiser to get out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-james/it-s-possible-to-fight-intolerance-stupidity-and-fanaticism-when-they/) [P. D. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-james/) > [The revolutionary spirit is mighty convenient in this, that it frees one from all scruples as regards ideas. Its hard absolute optimism is repulsive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-revolutionary-spirit-is-mighty-convenient-in-this-that-it-frees-2/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [When I remember thee in days to come, O Jerusalem, it will not be with pleasure. The musty deposits of 2,000 years of inhumanity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodor-herzl/when-i-remember-thee-in-days-to-come-o-jerusalem-it-will-not-be-with/) [Theodor Herzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodor-herzl/) > [“Naskar, The Origin Story (Sonnet 1999) Naren, Subhas, Abhijit, three vessels, one spirit. All three spring from paramhansa, in paramhansa we three perish. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/naskar-the-origin-story-sonnet-1999-naren-subhas-abhijit-three/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Any theology that starts with ethnic narcissism, by default becomes the lowest form of smut on earth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/any-theology-that-starts-with-ethnic-narcissism-by-default-becomes/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [No loss by flood and lightning, no destruction of cities and temples by the hostile forces of nature, has deprived man of so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/no-loss-by-flood-and-lightning-no-destruction-of-cities-and-temples/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Fanaticism is the child of false zeal and of superstition, the father of intolerance and of persecution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-william-fletcher/fanaticism-is-the-child-of-false-zeal-and-of-superstition-the-father/) [John William Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-william-fletcher/) > [“Thus identified with astronomy, in proclaiming truths supposed to be hostile to Scripture, Geology has been denounced as the enemy of religion. The twin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brewster/thus-identified-with-astronomy-in-proclaiming-truths-supposed-to-be/) [David Brewster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brewster/) > [Then there are the fanatical atheists whose intolerance is of the same kind as the intolerance of the religious fanatics and comes from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/then-there-are-the-fanatical-atheists-whose-intolerance-is-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The fanatic has the courage of his conviction and the intolerance of his courage. He is opposed to the death penalty for murder, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-bailey-aldrich/the-fanatic-has-the-courage-of-his-conviction-and-the-intolerance-of/) [Thomas Bailey Aldrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-bailey-aldrich/) > [All mass movements generate in their adherents a readiness to die and a proclivity for united action; all of them, irrespective of the doctrine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/all-mass-movements-generate-in-their-adherents-a-readiness-to-die-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## More by Tim Crane > [Science will always raise philosophical questions like, is any scientific theory or model correct? How do we know? Are unobserved things real? etc. and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crane/science-will-always-raise-philosophical-questions-like-is-any/) [Tim Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-crane/) > [The wine itself has aesthetic value; but what it is for a wine to have aesthetic value cannot be understood without making reference to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crane/the-wine-itself-has-aesthetic-value-but-what-it-is-for-a-wine-to-have/) [Tim Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-crane/) > [One odd thing about the current debate between religious people and atheists is that the participants don't seem to care that they entirely fail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crane/one-odd-thing-about-the-current-debate-between-religious-people-and/) [Tim Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-crane/) > [I do think that if you are trying to think empirically about the relationship between conscious experience and the underlying physical reality, wine provides…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crane/i-do-think-that-if-you-are-trying-to-think-empirically-about-the/) [Tim Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-crane/) > [I'm not a militant atheist, just an atheist. In fact, in a largely atheist country like the UK I think it's a bit silly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crane/i-m-not-a-militant-atheist-just-an-atheist-in-fact-in-a-largely/) [Tim Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-crane/) > [I think you can have a science of the taste of chicken soup, or the taste of Chateau Latour. My point is only that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crane/i-think-you-can-have-a-science-of-the-taste-of-chicken-soup-or-the/) [Tim Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-crane/) > [Naturalism is a methodological rather than a metaphysical view. It's because I am a naturalist, actually, that I am sceptical about physicalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crane/naturalism-is-a-methodological-rather-than-a-metaphysical-view-it-s/) [Tim Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-crane/) > [Music is one of my big interests - I once had a rather fanciful ambition to be a singer - and of course music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crane/music-is-one-of-my-big-interests-i-once-had-a-rather-fanciful/) [Tim Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-crane/) > [Although a lot of my work on the mind has been rather abstract and philosophical, I'm interested in psychology and neuroscience and I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crane/although-a-lot-of-my-work-on-the-mind-has-been-rather-abstract-and/) [Tim Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-crane/) > [A real naturalistic approach, I would claim, should take the reality of mental representation as a natural fact. A lot can be said about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crane/a-real-naturalistic-approach-i-would-claim-should-take-the-reality-of/) [Tim Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-crane/) > [I have a general moral: great philosophers may be great, but that is not a reason to follow them. Don't be a follower. Work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crane/i-have-a-general-moral-great-philosophers-may-be-great-but-that-is/) [Tim Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-crane/) > [We have no proper understanding of the relationship between conscious thought and conscious sensation. The various forms of thought and sensation are underpinned by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crane/we-have-no-proper-understanding-of-the-relationship-between-conscious/) [Tim Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-crane/) > [The thing I think I have learned from Wittgenstein is the importance of not making things up: philosophers should not invent problems, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crane/the-thing-i-think-i-have-learned-from-wittgenstein-is-the-importance/) [Tim Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-crane/) > [Wine is not discovered but made: it is an artifact that can be appraised that can be appraised aesthetically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crane/wine-is-not-discovered-but-made-it-is-an-artifact-that-can-be/) [Tim Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-crane/) > [Problems come and go over time, and to understand why is a difficult historical task. If one wanted to find the origin of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crane/problems-come-and-go-over-time-and-to-understand-why-is-a-difficult/) [Tim Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-crane/) [Explore all 33 Tim Crane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-crane/) ## More Fanaticism quotes > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Fanaticism, to which men are so much inclined, has always served not only to render them more brutalized but more wicked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/fanaticism-to-which-men-are-so-much-inclined-has-always-served-not/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [One would think that a system loaded with such gross and vulgar absurdities as Scripture religion is could never have obtained credit; yet we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/one-would-think-that-a-system-loaded-with-such-gross-and-vulgar/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“Fanatics are those who, when following a doctrine becomes inconvenient, make up rules of their own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathryn-louis/fanatics-are-those-who-when-following-a-doctrine-becomes-inconvenient/) [Cathryn Louis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathryn-louis/) > [Critics of the war plans (including myself) have pointed to the disastrous political results that must be expected: Iraq would break into three parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uri-avnery/critics-of-the-war-plans-including-myself-have-pointed-to-the/) [Uri Avnery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uri-avnery/) > [A noble person stands up as though a theater curtain rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-noble-person-stands-up-as-though-a-theater-curtain-rises/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Very often, fanaticism begins at home. It begins inside the family. It begins with the urge to change our kin, to change our beloved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/very-often-fanaticism-begins-at-home-it-begins-inside-the-family-it/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [Every isolated passion, is, in isolation, insane; sanity may be defined as synthesis of insanities. Every dominant passion generates a dominant fear, the fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/every-isolated-passion-is-in-isolation-insane-sanity-may-be-defined/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [ \[Friedrich\] Nietzsche said something marvellous, he said "Madness is not a consequence of uncertainty but of certainty", and this is fanaticism. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/friedrich-nietzsche-said-something-marvellous-he-said-madness-is-not/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Fanatics can justify practically any atrocity to themselves. The more untenable their position becomes, the harder they hold to it, and the worse the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/fanatics-can-justify-practically-any-atrocity-to-themselves-the-more/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [Fanaticism displays itself in the masses; but the masses were rarely fanaticised; and the crimes ascribed to it were commonly due to the calculations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/fanaticism-displays-itself-in-the-masses-but-the-masses-were-rarely/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [The Bible parable says that while men slept, the enemy sowed tares among the wheat. A boy who rises at 4:30 to deliver papers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/the-bible-parable-says-that-while-men-slept-the-enemy-sowed-tares/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) [Browse all 468 Fanaticism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fanaticism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I do not claim to have any developed or sophisticated views in political philosophy, but I think that one of the lessons of the last few hundred years of history is that the greatest threat to human prosperity and well-being is fanaticism and intolerance, even in the name of apparently laudable goals.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tim Crane" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crane/i-do-not-claim-to-have-any-developed-or-sophisticated-views-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fanaticism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crane/i-do-not-claim-to-have-any-developed-or-sophisticated-views-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1b/tim-crane-19350_fanaticism_i-do-not-claim-to-have-any-developed-or_2351366.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1b/tim-crane-19350_fanaticism_i-do-not-claim-to-have-any-developed-or_2351366.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1b/tim-crane-19350_fanaticism_i-do-not-claim-to-have-any-developed-or_2351366.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I do not claim to have any developed or sophisticated views in political philosophy, but I think that one of…” — Tim Crane", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tim Crane", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-crane/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I do not claim to have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crane/i-do-not-claim-to-have-any-developed-or-sophisticated-views-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crane/i-do-not-claim-to-have-any-developed-or-sophisticated-views-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```