No amount of manifest absurdity... could deter those who wanted to believe from believing.
Bernard LevinRead
Ask a man which way he is going to vote, and he will probably tell you. Ask him, however, why, and vagueness is all.
Interpretation
People often know their choices but lack the reasoning behind them.
This quote highlights the difference between knowing what one is going to do, such as voting, and understanding the motivations and reasoning behind that choice. It suggests that while individuals can easily express their decisions, delving into the reasons can reveal a lack of clarity or understanding, exposing the complexity of human decision-making.
In practice
During a political discussion, you can quote this to emphasize the importance of understanding one's beliefs.
No amount of manifest absurdity... could deter those who wanted to believe from believing.
What has happened to architecture since the second world war that the only passers-by who can contemplate it without pain are those equipped with a white stick and a dog?
If we expected self-reliance of family groups, if we expected hardiness and resilience and initiative on the part of individuals, and if we rewarded initiative instead of dependence on government, we would not only ameliorate many of the family-related social problems we see at present, but we would also reduce our vulnerability to terrorism. People who are hardy, resilient, and self reliant are a lot harder to terrorize.
Self-esteem isn't everything; it's just that there's nothing without it.
It taught him how to listen -- how to listen with a quiet heart and a waiting soul, open soul, without passion, without desire, without judgment, without opinion.
Admit when you're wrong. Shut up when you're right.
Some would find fault with the morning, if they ever got up early enough.. The fault find faults even in Paradise.
The world turns aside to let any man pass who knows where he is going.
An error can never become true however many times you repeat it. The truth can never be wrong, even if no one hears it.
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