Prejudices are what fools use for reason.
VoltaireRead
It is dangerous to be right in matters where established men are wrong.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Challenging the status quo can be risky, especially when it goes against influential figures.
Voltaire's quote highlights the risks associated with speaking truth to power. It suggests that, in a society where established authority figures hold strong beliefs or positions, being correct may lead to conflict or danger for those who challenge them. This reflects the complexities of intellectual freedom and the courage required to stand up for one's convictions, particularly in the face of opposition from those in power.
Themes
DangerTruthAuthorityFreedomRisk
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a speech about the importance of standing up for what is right despite opposition.
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If God did not exist, He would have to be invented. But all nature cries aloud that he does exist: that there is a supreme intelligence, an immense power, an admirable order, and everything teaches us our own dependence on it.
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