Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions.
Interpretation
This quote highlights the difficulty individuals face in forming and expressing opinions that diverge from societal norms and prejudices.
Albert Einstein reflects on the challenge of critical thinking and independent thought in the context of societal influences. He suggests that many individuals find it hard to hold differing opinions due to the prejudices prevalent in their social environment, and that an even greater number may struggle to form any opinions that diverge from these norms. This observation emphasizes the importance of fostering an open mind and the courage it takes to challenge the collective thinking of society.
In practice
In a discussion about social justice, one might use this quote to emphasize the need for critical thinking.
I cannot then believe in this concept of an anthropomorphic God who has the powers of interfering with these natural laws. As I said before, the most beautiful and most profound religious emotion that we can experience is the sensation of the mystical. And this mysticality is the power of all true science.
If I would follow your advice and Jesus could perceive it, he, as a Jewish teacher, surely would not approve of such behavior.
I want to know all Gods thoughts; all the rest are just details.
In the middle of adversity there is great opportunity.
I do not believe that civilization will be wiped out in a war fought with the atomic bomb. Perhaps two-thirds of the people of the earth will be killed.
To me the worst thing seems to be a school principally to work with methods of fear, force and artificial authority. Such treatment destroys the sound sentiments, the sincerity and the self-confidence of pupils and produces a subservient subject.
A 'good job' can be both practically attractive while still not good enough to devote your entire life to.
Off to one side sits a group of shepherds. They sit silently on the floor, perhaps perplexed, perhaps in awe, no doubt in amazement. Their night watch had been interrupted by an explosion of light from heaven and a symphony of angels. God goes to those who have time to hear him-and so on this cloudless night he went to simple shepherds.
One day, it was suddenly revealed to me that everything is pure spirit.
What kind of guilt comes from being true to yourself but not to others?. As we have seen, being true to yourself may at times intrinsically and necessarily be in conflict with being true to others.
Time is a drug. Too much of it kills you.
I think that people in the Bible Belt are far less monolithically religious than many people imagine. There are lots and lots of people who are free-thinking, secularists, or atheists in the so-called Bible Belt.
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