To say 'I love you' one must first be able to say the 'I.'
Ayn RandRead
To arrive at a contradiction is to confess an error in one's thinking; to maintain a contradiction is to abdicate one's mind and to evict oneself from the realm of reality.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Contradicting oneself signifies flawed reasoning, while holding onto contradictions disconnects one from reality.
This quote by Ayn Rand emphasizes the importance of clear and rational thinking. It suggests that arriving at contradictory beliefs indicates a mistake in oneβs reasoning process, while persisting in such contradictions reflects a refusal to engage with reality and truth. Rational thought and consistency are crucial in understanding the world accurately.
Themes
ContradictionThinkingRealityReasoningPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate about moral philosophy, one might quote Rand to emphasize the importance of coherent thought.
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It is my eyes which see, and the sight of my eyes grants beauty to the earth. It is my ears which hear, and the hearing of my ears gives its song to the world. It is my mind which thinks, and the judgement of my mind is the only searchlight that can find the truth. It is my will which chooses, and the choice of my will is the only edict I must respect.
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What is the basic, the essential, the crucial principle that differentiates freedom from slavery? It is the principle of voluntary action versus physical coercion or compulsion.
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One method of destroying a concept is by diluting its meaning. Observe that by ascribing rights to the unborn, i.e., the nonliving, the anti-abortionists obliterate the rights of the living.
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I think that when in doubt about the truth of an issue, it's safer and in better taste to select the least numerous of the adversaries.
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