---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Reverence for what somebody said is a…"
description: "\"“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 the..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32a/w-somerset-maugham-237_kant_reverence-for-what-somebody-said-is-a-st_433344.jpg"
---

#  Reverence for what somebody said is a stultifying quality…

![“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.” quote by W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32a/w-somerset-maugham-237_kant_reverence-for-what-somebody-said-is-a-st_433344.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32a/w-somerset-maugham-237_kant_reverence-for-what-somebody-said-is-a-st_433344.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32a/w-somerset-maugham-237_kant_reverence-for-what-somebody-said-is-a-st_433344.jpg)

> ““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.””

[W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

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.

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[Reverence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reverence/)

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