QuoteProject
Cherish those who seek the truth but beware of those who find it.
Voltaire
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Value those who pursue truth, but be cautious of those who claim to have found it.

This quote from Voltaire encourages respect for individuals who are dedicated to uncovering the truth, as it is often a journey filled with exploration and inquiry. However, it also serves as a warning against those who are overly confident in their understanding, as they may possess a rigid mindset that fails to acknowledge the complexity of truth.

Themes

TruthCautionWisdomSeekingKnowledge

In practice

Example use cases

During a philosophical debate, one might say this quote to emphasize the importance of questioning assumptions.

More from Voltaire

Prejudices are what fools use for reason.
VoltaireRead
He was a great patriot, a humanitarian, a loyal friend; provided, of course, he really is dead.
VoltaireRead
It is dangerous to be right in matters where established men are wrong.
VoltaireRead
It is not sufficient to see and to know the beauty of a work. We must feel and be affected by it.
VoltaireRead
We are all full of weakness and errors; let us mutually pardon each other our follies - it is the first law of nature.
VoltaireRead
It is better to risk saving a guilty man than to condemn an innocent one.
VoltaireRead

Similar quotes

Learn that the present hour alone is man's.
Samuel JohnsonRead
Afflictive emotions - our jealousy, anger, hatred, fear - can be put to an end. When you realize that these emotions are only temporary, that they always pass on like clouds in the sky, you also realize they can ultimately be abandoned.
Dalai LamaRead
Fill what is empty, empty what is full, and scratch where it itches.
Tallulah BankheadRead
Someone asked the Swiss physician & author Paul Tournier how he helped his patients get rid of their fears. He replied, 'I don't. Everything that's worthwhile in life is scary. Choosing a school, choosing a career, getting married, having kids--all those things are scary. If it is not fearful, it is not worthwhile.'
Philip YanceyRead
To be idle requires a strong sense of personal identity.
Robert Louis StevensonRead
By a tranquil mind I mean nothing else than a mind well ordered.
Marcus AureliusRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.