It is not the facts which guide the conduct of men, but their opinions about facts; which may be entirely wrong. We can only make them right by discussion.
Interpretation
People are driven by their perceptions of facts rather than by facts themselves, and discussion is key to correcting misunderstandings.
In this quote, Norman Angell highlights the importance of subjective perceptions over objective reality in shaping human behavior. He emphasizes that individuals act based on their opinions about facts, which can often be incorrect; thus, engaging in open discussions is essential to rectify these misunderstandings and align opinions with reality.
In practice
In a debate on social media, one might use this quote to emphasize the need for dialogue to correct misconceptions.
Let us face squarely the paradox that the world which goes to war is a world, usually genuinely desiring peace. War is the outcome, not mainly of evil intentions, but on the whole of good intentions which miscarry or are frustrated. It is made not usually by evil men knowing themselves to be wrong, but is the outcome of policies pursued by good men usually passionately convinced that they are right.
A city with one newspaper... is like a man with one eye, and often the eye is glass.
When I was a young man, near the beginning of my life, I looked around with true mindfulness and saw that all things are subject to decay.
Finding oneself was a misnomer; a self is not found but made.
The danger of psychedelic drugs, the danger of mind-opening, the danger of consciousness expansion, the danger of inner discovery is a danger to the establishment.
Upon this subject, the habits of our whole species fall into three great classes--useful labour, useless labour and idleness. Of these the first only is meritorious; and to it all the products of labour rightfully belong; but the two latter, while they exist, are heavy pensioners upon the first, robbing it of a large portion of it's just rights. The only remedy for this is to, as far as possible, drive useless labour and idleness out of existence.
It doesn't matter how many drugs I take, I'm not fulfilled. This isn't satisfying. There's a spiritual hunger going on. Everybody feels it. If you don't feel it now, you will. Trust me. You will... Drinking beer is easy. Trashing your hotel room is easy. But being a Christian, that's a tough call. That's the real rebellion.
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