We ought not to extract pernicious honey from poison blossoms of misrepresentation and mendacious half-truth, to pamper the course appetite of bigotry and self-love.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
A people are free in proportion as they form their own opinions.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Freedom is linked to the ability of individuals to develop their own perspectives.
This quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge highlights the connection between individual freedom and the capacity to form personal opinions. It suggests that true liberty is achieved when people are not merely accepting ideas from others, but actively engaging in critical thought and developing their own beliefs, thus contributing to a more enlightened and autonomous society.
Themes
FreedomOpinionsIndividualityThoughtAutonomy
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate on democracy, one might say, 'A people are free in proportion as they form their own opinions.'
More from Samuel Taylor Coleridge
All quotes βCommon sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
And all who heard should see them there, And all should cry, Beware! Beware! His flashing eyes, his floating hair! Weave a circle round him thrice, And close your eyes with holy dread, For he on honey-dew hath fed, And drunk the milk of Paradise.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
Often do the spirits stride on before the event; and in today already walks tomorrow.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
Mr. Lyell's system of geology is just half the truth, and no more. He affirms a great deal that is true, and he denies a great deal which is equally true; which is the general characteristic of all systems not embracing the whole truth.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
To believe and to understand are not diverse things, but the same things in different periods of growth.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
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