Prejudices are what fools use for reason.
VoltaireRead
The progress of rivers to the ocean is not so rapid as that of man to error.
Interpretation
Humans often make mistakes at a quicker pace than nature's slow and steady progress.
In this quote, Voltaire highlights the inherent tendency of human beings to err and make wrong choices more rapidly than the natural world evolves. It reflects on the impulsiveness and fallibility of mankind, suggesting that while natural processes take their time, human mistakes are frequent and swift, reminding us of the importance of self-awareness and reflection.
In practice
This quote is perfect for a philosophy class discussing human fallibility.
Prejudices are what fools use for reason.
He was a great patriot, a humanitarian, a loyal friend; provided, of course, he really is dead.
It is dangerous to be right in matters where established men are wrong.
It is not sufficient to see and to know the beauty of a work. We must feel and be affected by it.
We are all full of weakness and errors; let us mutually pardon each other our follies - it is the first law of nature.
It is better to risk saving a guilty man than to condemn an innocent one.
The most important thing in life is to dare. The most complicated thing in life is to be afraid. The smartest thing in the world is to try to be a moral person.
If faith in ourselves had been more extensively taught and practiced, I am sure a very large portion of the evils and miseries that we have would have vanished.
We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those we don't like?
It is generally much more shameful to lose a good reputation than never to have acquired it.
By not caring too much about what people think, I'm able to think for myself and propagate ideas which are very often unpopular. And I succeed.
There are lots of things we never understand, no matter how many years we put on, no matter how much experience we accumulate.
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