Almost all rich veins of original and striking speculation have been opened by systematic half-thinkers.
Interpretation
Original ideas often emerge from those who think critically, rather than superficially.
John Stuart Mill's quote suggests that the most valuable and innovative ideas come from individuals who engage in deep, systematic thinking rather than those who only scratch the surface. The term 'half-thinkers' refers to those who do not fully invest themselves in exploring concepts thoroughly, implying that true understanding and creativity require more effort and commitment to deep thought.
In practice
During a panel discussion on innovation, one might use this quote to emphasize the importance of deep thinking in generating new ideas.
The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error.
As for charity, it is a matter in which the immediate effect on the persons directly concerned, and the ultimate consequence to the general good, are apt to be at complete war with one another.
To think that because those who wield power in society wield in the end that of government, therefore it is of no use to attempt to influence the constitution of the government by acting on opinion, is to forget that opinion is itself one of the greatest active social forces. One person with a belief is a social power equal to ninety-nine who have only interests.
There should be perfect freedom, legal and social, to do the action and stand the consequences. It would be a great misunderstanding of this doctrine to suppose that it is one of selfish indifference, which pretends that human beings have no business with each other's conduct in life, and that they should not concern themselves about the well-doing or well-being of one another, unless their own interest is involved.
Political Economy, in truth, has never pretended to give advice to mankind with no lights but its own; though people who knew nothing but political economy (and therefore knew it ill) have taken upon themselves to advise, and could only do so by such lights as they had.
Marriage is the only actual bondage known to our law. There remain no legal slaves, except the mistress of every house.
The way you come to fully appreciate the infusion of the Spirit is to more and more come fully into the moment, where this moment is enough.
I never understood that line. The point was to inhale. That was the point.
Good thoughts are no better than good dreams, unless they are executed.
Attitude is a paintbrush. It colors everything!
I try to take care_x000D_ and be gentle to them._x000D_ Words and eggs must be handled with care._x000D_ Once broken they are impossible things to repair.
One of the pervasive risks that we face in the information age, as I wrote in the introduction, is that even if the amount of knowledge in the world is increasing, the gap between what we know and what we think we know may be widening.
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