Cold Quote by William Godwin
“We covet experience; we have a secret desire to learn, not from cold prohibition, but from trial, whether those things, which are not without a semblance of good, are really so ill as they are described to us.”
About This Quote
Source Book: An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, 1793
The desire to learn comes from curiosity and experimentation, not from imposed restrictions; we must test ideas to discover their true value.
In simple terms: Learning is driven by curiosity and testing, not bans.
Embrace trial to uncover truth.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- education reform
- scientific research
- personal growth
- policy analysis
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions do you accept without testing?
- How can safe experimentation be encouraged?
Trial may be costly or risky without guidance.