Married couples who quarrel bitterly every day may really need each other as deeply as those who appear to be desperately in love.
Edward AbbeyRead
Orthodoxy is a relaxation of the mind accompanied by a stiffening of the heart.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that rigid adherence to conventional beliefs can lead to closed-mindedness and emotional numbness.
Edward Abbey's quote critiques the concept of orthodoxy, implying that strict conformity to established beliefs may lead to mental complacency and a lack of emotional engagement. It highlights the danger of becoming so entrenched in accepted norms that one’s capacity for critical thought and empathy diminishes, inviting individuals to challenge their beliefs and embrace a more open-minded approach to life.
Themes
OrthodoxyBeliefsConformityOpen-MindednessCriticism
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about traditional values, one might use this quote to illustrate the risks of blindly adhering to past norms.
More from Edward Abbey
All quotes →I love America because it is a confused, chaotic mess - and I hope we can keep it this way for at least another thousand years. The permissive society is the free society.
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If it's knowledge and wisdom you want, then seek out the company of those who do real work for an honest purpose.
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The earth is real. Only a fool, milking his cow, denies the cow's reality.
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I believe in nothing that I cannot touch, kiss, embrace.... The rest is only hearsay.
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Why can't we simply borrow what is useful to us from Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, especially Zen, as we borrow from Christianity, science, American Indian traditions and world literature in general, including philosophy, and let the rest go hang? Borrow what we need but rely principally upon our own senses, common sense and daily living experience.
Edward AbbeyRead
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