Stupidity, outrage, vanity, cruelty, iniquity, bad faith, falsehood - we fail to see the whole array when it is facing in the same direction as we.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes that our biases can blind us to the full scope of negative qualities that may be present when we align ourselves with harmful ideas.
Jean Rostand's quote highlights the dangers of confirmation bias and the tendency to overlook negative traits in our beliefs or those we agree with. When we are in favor of something, we often fail to see its flaws or the potential for harm it may cause. This quote serves as a reminder to remain critical and aware, even of our own prejudices and the way we align with certain ideas or groups.
In practice
This quote can be shared during discussions about political biases and the importance of critical thinking.
If a given scientist had not made a given discovery, someone else would have done so a little later. Johann Mendel dies unknown after having discovered the laws of heredity: thirty-five years later, three men rediscover them. But the book that is not written will never be written. The premature death of a great scientist delays humanity; that of a great writer deprives it.
Certain brief sentences are peerless in their ability to give one the feeling that nothing remains to be said.
My pessimism extends to the point of even suspecting the sincerity of other pessimists.
We spend our time envying people whom we wouldn't wish to be.
When a scientist is ahead of his times, it is often through misunderstanding of current, rather than intuition of future truth. In science there is never any error so gross that it won't one day, from some perspective, appear prophetic.
A few great minds are enough to endow humanity with monstrous power, but a few great hearts are not enough to make us worthy of using it.
Kindness is more than a virtue. It is a source of strength.
Never," said my aunt, "be mean in anything; never be false; never be cruel. Avoid those three vices, Trot, and I can always be hopeful of you.
The devil is in the details, and everything we do in the military is a detail.
The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.
I'm at peace with myself. The main thing is not letting people dictate what I do or what I am.
Prayer cannot bring water to parched fields, or mend a broken bridge, or rebuild a ruined city; but prayer can water an arid soul, mend a broken heart, and rebuild a weakened will.
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