--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Am I corrupted if I believe that the…" description: "\"“Am I corrupted if I believe that the people who think alike are more admirable and estimable than those who think for themselves? If no one thought di..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/tom-walsh-21995_beliefs_am-i-corrupted-if-i-believe-that-the-peo_1061369.jpg" --- # Am I corrupted if I believe that the people who think… ![“Am I corrupted if I believe that the people who think alike are more admirable and estimable than those who think for themselves? If no one thought differently, then where would our innovations come from? How would we ever advance beyond the status quo? Corruption isn't just moral or ethical in…” quote by Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/tom-walsh-21995_beliefs_am-i-corrupted-if-i-believe-that-the-peo_1061369.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/tom-walsh-21995_beliefs_am-i-corrupted-if-i-believe-that-the-peo_1061369.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/tom-walsh-21995_beliefs_am-i-corrupted-if-i-believe-that-the-peo_1061369.jpg) > ““Am I corrupted if I believe that the people who think alike are more admirable and estimable than those who think for themselves? If no one thought differently, then where would our innovations come from? How would we ever advance beyond the status quo? Corruption isn't just moral or ethical in nature--rust is a form of corruption, one that eats away at its host like a parasite, constantly making it less than it was the day before. The belief that they should hold in greater esteem those who think alike is a form of rust, something that doesn't allow our young people to grow beyond the limitations already established by those who do think alike.”” [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Valuing conformity over independent thought stifles innovation and leads to societal decay, likened to rust that corrodes progress. **In simple terms:** Thinking alike is rust that stops growth. Key Takeaway Encourage diverse thinking. Themes innovation conformity progress corruption Mood critical reflective Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - education reform - business strategy - public policy - personal development Key Concepts social dynamics psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can we reward originality? - What structures reinforce conformity? A Different Perspective Relying on conformity can create echo chambers that hinder problem solving. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs/) [Conformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conformity/) [Corrupted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corrupted/) [Corrupted Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corrupted-believe-2594135/) [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Corruption Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption-isn-2148268/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Form Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form-corruption-1926176/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Status quo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/status-quo/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) ## Related quotes > [“Weakness and corruption isn't in the world, its in people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassanda-claire/weakness-and-corruption-isn-t-in-the-world-its-in-people/) [Cassanda Claire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassanda-claire/) > [It is interesting that I have gone through the process of representing clients as an ex-athlete. I am certainly not naive to think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-armstrong/it-is-interesting-that-i-have-gone-through-the-process-of/) [B. J. Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-armstrong/) > [“You know that when a police officer refuses to produce formal identification on request, they are probably engaging in some form of corruption.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/you-know-that-when-a-police-officer-refuses-to-produce-formal/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Nepotism is the lowest and least imaginative form of corruption.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-alarcon/nepotism-is-the-lowest-and-least-imaginative-form-of-corruption/) [Daniel Alarcón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-alarcon/) > [Reject every form of corruption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/reject-every-form-of-corruption/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“They’d had so much more luck investing in eccentric B and C students. The rationale was simple: Those heavily invested in the status quo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/they-d-had-so-much-more-luck-investing-in-eccentric-b-and-c-students/) [Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/) > [“All to often, on the long road up, young leaders become servants of what is rather than shapers of what might be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/all-to-often-on-the-long-road-up-young-leaders-become-servants-of/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [“When mystical elements are introduced into morality, the whole system ends up being corrupted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/when-mystical-elements-are-introduced-into-morality-the-whole-system/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [Even cohabitation has been corrupted - by marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/even-cohabitation-has-been-corrupted-by-marriage/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Plantations of good morals are easily captivated, colonized and corrupted by the pests of a bad company. Spray away bad companies and you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/plantations-of-good-morals-are-easily-captivated-colonized-and/) [israelmore ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [My mind corrupted but my heart is still pure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cj-fly/my-mind-corrupted-but-my-heart-is-still-pure/) [CJ Fly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cj-fly/) > [Whenever the speech is corrupted so is the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whenever-the-speech-is-corrupted-so-is-the-mind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The whole idea of the pursuit of goods and possessions has completely corrupted the human experience, along with religion, which I think limits the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-whole-idea-of-the-pursuit-of-goods-and-possessions-has-completely/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [The government is corrupted. It's corrupted. It is not about regular people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-schmidt/the-government-is-corrupted-it-s-corrupted-it-is-not-about-regular/) [Steve Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-schmidt/) > [“The U.S. financial markets had always been either corrupt or about to be corrupted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/the-u-s-financial-markets-had-always-been-either-corrupt-or-about-to/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) ## More by Tom Walsh > [“just for today, i'll do something nice for someone who's not expecting it. .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/just-for-today-i-ll-do-something-nice-for-someone-who-s-not-expecting/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“Sometimes we mistake patience for weakness, but the patient person often realizes that it's much more important for another person to discover his or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/sometimes-we-mistake-patience-for-weakness-but-the-patient-person/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“We must trust that what we're doing has a purpose. We must realize that we're not here to make kids conform or perform, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/we-must-trust-that-what-we-re-doing-has-a-purpose-we-must-realize/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“just for today, i'll try to maintain a positive perspective, no matter what the situation. . .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/just-for-today-i-ll-try-to-maintain-a-positive-perspective-no-matter/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“When we separate ourselves from the rest of the world, the world becomes a lonely and difficult place to live in. When we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/when-we-separate-ourselves-from-the-rest-of-the-world-the-world/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“This need to be right has put a huge burden on me, one that I never deserved to have to carry. Part of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/this-need-to-be-right-has-put-a-huge-burden-on-me-one-that-i-never/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“for today, i'll hold on to my dreams and respect them. .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/for-today-i-ll-hold-on-to-my-dreams-and-respect-them/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [Humor results when society says you can't scratch certain things in public, but they itch in public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/humor-results-when-society-says-you-can-t-scratch-certain-things-in/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“Some people search out solitude without even thinking that they need to do so--it's an innate urge with them, something that they do as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/some-people-search-out-solitude-without-even-thinking-that-they-need/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“Saying a prayer can be as simple as thinking positive thoughts about someone—it’s not an act that needs to be tied to any particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/saying-a-prayer-can-be-as-simple-as-thinking-positive-thoughts-about/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“The simple truth is that love is a part of who we are, not something that others "give" to us if we're worthy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/the-simple-truth-is-that-love-is-a-part-of-who-we-are-not-something/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“It seems that the more we learn about our work, the easier and the more interesting it becomes to us. Tasks that used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/it-seems-that-the-more-we-learn-about-our-work-the-easier-and-the/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“Our culture values independence and isolation far too much, it seems to me--we have a hard time making ourselves part of things, of making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/our-culture-values-independence-and-isolation-far-too-much-it-seems/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“We lose our ability to live fully if we neglect or ignore our responsibility to the other people who share this planet with us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/we-lose-our-ability-to-live-fully-if-we-neglect-or-ignore-our/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“So it's important to remember that our job isn't to solve other people's problems for them, but to help them to discover the ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/so-it-s-important-to-remember-that-our-job-isn-t-to-solve-other/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) [Explore all 28 Tom Walsh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) ## More Beliefs quotes > [People always wonder when the world is going to end. I believe that the world will end when everyone stops loving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichole-fickes/people-always-wonder-when-the-world-is-going-to-end-i-believe-that/) [Nichole Fickes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichole-fickes/) > [“Your life is your statement to the world representing your values, your beliefs, your dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-arenson/your-life-is-your-statement-to-the-world-representing-your-values/) [David Arenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-arenson/) > [Our beliefs are like the unquestioned commands, telling us how things are, what's possible and what's impossible, what we can and can not do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/our-beliefs-are-like-the-unquestioned-commands-telling-us-how-things/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“Update your belief! If necessary, throw it to the bin! Don’t exaggerate your belief! Remember that your belief is not that much important; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/update-your-belief-if-necessary-throw-it-to-the-bin-don-t-exaggerate/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I do believe in love at first sight. I believe in a lot of thing. I truly believe everything happens for a reason, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-do-believe-in-love-at-first-sight-i-believe-in-a-lot-of-thing-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My parents were, had a marriage of passion, and the passion was about their religious beliefs. They were both immigrant families that - well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/my-parents-were-had-a-marriage-of-passion-and-the-passion-was-about/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [I believe in my Mormon faith, and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers - I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-believe-in-my-mormon-faith-and-i-endeavor-to-live-by-it-my-faith-is/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [The first principle of cognitive therapy is that all your moods are created by your 'cognitions,' or thoughts. A cognition refers to the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/the-first-principle-of-cognitive-therapy-is-that-all-your-moods-are/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [“What is held real is based upon personal beliefs that drive perception.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/what-is-held-real-is-based-upon-personal-beliefs-that-drive-perception/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [I want everybody to worship the God of love instead of worshipping the God of hate and torture. But in the meantime, we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mosab-hassan-yousef/i-want-everybody-to-worship-the-god-of-love-instead-of-worshipping/) [Mosab Hassan Yousef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mosab-hassan-yousef/) > [“As you travel along the roads in life, there is a certain kind of peace that comes with knowing you're on the right path.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amaka-nkosazana/as-you-travel-along-the-roads-in-life-there-is-a-certain-kind-of/) [Amaka Nkosazana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amaka-nkosazana/) > [“My belief is the belief of no beliefs. That's my belief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-scott-mcleod/my-belief-is-the-belief-of-no-beliefs-that-s-my-belief/) [T. Scott McLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-scott-mcleod/) > [Beliefs and values that have held sway for thousands of years will be questioned as never before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-p-christ/beliefs-and-values-that-have-held-sway-for-thousands-of-years-will-be/) [Carol P. Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-p-christ/) > [There is no power shortage in heaven, and God is never in a recession. But His grace is sufficient to meet every need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/there-is-no-power-shortage-in-heaven-and-god-is-never-in-a-recession/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“Your beliefs, and your beliefs alone, belong to you. You are the only one who is with you for your entire life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ruiz-jr/your-beliefs-and-your-beliefs-alone-belong-to-you-you-are-the-only/) [Miguel Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ruiz-jr/) [Browse all 1,331 Beliefs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Am I corrupted if I believe that the people who think alike are more admirable and estimable than those who think for themselves? If no one thought differently, then where would our innovations come from? How would we ever advance beyond the status quo? Corruption isn't just moral or ethical in nature--rust is a form of corruption, one that eats away at its host like a parasite, constantly making it less than it was the day before. The belief that they should hold in greater esteem those who think alike is a form of rust, something that doesn't allow our young people to grow beyond the limitations already established by those who do think alike.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Walsh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/am-i-corrupted-if-i-believe-that-the-people-who-think-alike-are-more/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beliefs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/am-i-corrupted-if-i-believe-that-the-people-who-think-alike-are-more/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/tom-walsh-21995_beliefs_am-i-corrupted-if-i-believe-that-the-peo_1061369.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/tom-walsh-21995_beliefs_am-i-corrupted-if-i-believe-that-the-peo_1061369.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/tom-walsh-21995_beliefs_am-i-corrupted-if-i-believe-that-the-peo_1061369.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Am I corrupted if I believe that the people who think alike are more admirable and estimable than those who…” — Tom Walsh", "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": "Tom Walsh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Am I corrupted if I believe...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/am-i-corrupted-if-i-believe-that-the-people-who-think-alike-are-more/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/am-i-corrupted-if-i-believe-that-the-people-who-think-alike-are-more/#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 } } ] } ```