Life never presents us with anything which may not be looked upon as a fresh starting point, no less than as a termination.
Andre GideRead
We no longer admit any other truth than that which is expedient; for there is no worse error than the truth that may weaken the arm that is fighting.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote criticizes the acceptance of truths based solely on their practicality rather than their validity.
Andre Gide's quote conveys the idea that society tends to prioritize truths that support immediate advantages or expedience, dismissing those that may be inconvenient or weaken one's position. This perspective suggests a moral dilemma where individuals must reconcile the pursuit of truth with the practical consequences that such truths may entail in a struggle or conflict.
Themes
TruthExpedientMoralityPhilosophyConflict
In practice
Example use cases
A discussion on ethics in a philosophy class.
More from Andre Gide
All quotes βDo not do what someone else could do as well as you. Do not say, do not write what someone else could say, could write as well as you. Care for nothing in yourself but what you feel exists nowhere else. And, out of yourself create, impatiently or patiently, the most irreplaceable of beings.
Andre GideRead
Old hands soil, it seems, whatever they caress, but they too have their beauty when they are joined in prayer. Young hands were made for caresses and the sheathing of love. It is a pity to make them join too soon.
Andre GideRead
Through fear of resembling one another, through horror of having to submit, through uncertainty as well, through skepticism and complexity, there is a multitude of individual little beliefs for the triumph of strange little individuals.
Andre GideRead
It is the special quality of love not to be able to remain stationary, to be obliged to increase under pain of diminishing.
Andre GideRead
It is with noble sentiments that bad literature gets written.
Andre GideRead
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