Every island to a child is a treasure island.
P. D. JamesRead
It's possible to fight intolerance, stupidity and fanaticism when they come separately. When you get all three together it's probably wiser to get out, if only to preserve your sanity.
Interpretation
One should avoid situations where intolerance, stupidity, and fanaticism combine, as it can threaten one's mental wellbeing.
P. D. James highlights the dangers of encountering intolerance, stupidity, and fanaticism simultaneously. While it's feasible to confront each of these issues individually, facing them together can be overwhelming. This quote suggests that in such dire circumstances, it may be more prudent to distance oneself to maintain one's peace of mind and sanity.
In practice
During a debate about controversial topics, one might use this quote to emphasize the need to walk away when discussions become hostile.
Every island to a child is a treasure island.
If from infancy you treat children as gods, they are liable in adulthood to act as devils.
I believe that political correctness can be a form of linguistic fascism, and it sends shivers down the spine of my generation who went to war against fascism.
What a child doesn't receive he can seldom later give.
Open your mind to new experiences, particularly to the study of other Βpeople. Nothing that happens to a writer β however happy, however tragic β is ever wasted.
It was one of those perfect English autumnal days which occur more frequently in memory than in life.
God grant that I may never live to be useless!
Instead of dwelling on negative thoughts, cause your mind to dwell on peace and joy.
I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him.
Those that are most slow in making a promise are the most faithful in the performance of it.
It is better to solve one problem five different ways, than to solve five problems one way.
The best way to be original is to be yourself.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.