The sea is calm tonight. The tide is full, the moon lies fair Upon the straits;- on the French coast the light Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand, glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay.
Matthew ArnoldRead
It is almost impossible to exaggerate the proneness of the human mind to take miracles as evidence, and to seek for miracles as evidence.
Interpretation
Human beings have a tendency to interpret extraordinary events as proof of their beliefs and to pursue such events as validation.
In this quote, Matthew Arnold reflects on the inherent tendency of humans to perceive extraordinary occurrences as validation for their beliefs. This highlights a psychological inclination where people may overlook rational explanations in favor of miraculous interpretations, demonstrating a deep connection between belief systems and human cognition.
In practice
During a presentation on critical thinking, this quote can be used to highlight the importance of skepticism in evaluating evidence.
The sea is calm tonight. The tide is full, the moon lies fair Upon the straits;- on the French coast the light Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand, glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay.
And each day brings it's pretty dust, Our soon-choked souls to fll And we forget because we must, And not because we will.
To have the sense of creative activity is the great happiness and the great proof of being alive.
Nature, with equal mind, Sees all her sons at play, Sees man control the wind, The wind sweep man away.
Culture, the acquainting ourselves with the best that has been known and said in the world, and thus with the history of the human spirit.
Weary of myself, and sick of asking What I am, and what I ought to be, At this vessel's prow I stand, which bears me Forwards, forwards, o'er the starlit sea.
So much of the news was invented for propaganda.
She knew full well the enormity of her offense, but because her desires were stronger than the code she was breaking, she persisted in breaking it.
There may not be one Truth - there may be several truths - but saying that is not to say that reality doesn't exist.
The self of which you speak, whether it is the great self or the small self, is only a concept that does not correspond to any reality.
I'm going to do what I want to do. I'm going to be who I really am. I'm going to figure out what that is.
Secret guilt is by silence revealed.
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