Kant Quote by W. Somerset Maugham
““Reverence for what somebody said is a stultifying quality: there's a damned sight too much reverence in the world. Kant thought things not because they were true, but because he was Kant.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Art of the Novel, 1930s
Blind reverence stifles critical thought; Kant's authority is questioned as a cultural habit.
In simple terms: Unquestioning respect blocks thinking.
Key Takeaway
Question authority, think independently.
Themes
critical thinking
authority
intellectual humility
Mood
reflective
skeptical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- media criticism
- personal decision
- education
- leadership
Key Concepts
philosophy
cognitive bias
skepticism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does reverence affect your judgments?
- When is respect necessary?
A Different Perspective
Reverence can be useful for tradition.
![“[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)
