False thinking and false ideologies, dressed in the most pleasing forms, quietly - almost without our knowing it - seek to reduce our moral defenses and to captivate our minds. They entice with bright promises of security, cradle-to-grave guarantees of many kinds.
Interpretation
The quote warns against being deceived by attractive false ideologies that undermine our moral judgment.
Ezra Taft Benson's quote emphasizes the subtle dangers of false ideas and ideologies that may appear appealing but ultimately threaten our moral integrity. These deceptive thoughts can disguise themselves in comforting promises and guarantees, leading individuals to relinquish their critical thinking and ethical standards without even realizing it.
In practice
During a seminar on critical thinking, this quote can be used to illustrate the importance of questioning seemingly attractive arguments.
Humility responds to God's will-to the fear of His judgments and to the needs of those around us. To the proud, the applause of the world rings in their ears; to the humble, the applause of heaven warms their hearts. Someone has said, "Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man."
Physical well-being is not only a priceless asset to oneself-it is a heritage to be passed on. With good health, all other activities of life are greatly enhanced. A clean mind in a healthy body enables one to render far more effective service to others. It helps one provide more vigorous leadership. It gives our every experience in life more zest and more meaning. Robust health is a noble and worthwhile attainment.
If you really want to receive joy and happiness, then serve others with all your heart. Lift their burden, and your own burden will be lighter.
Our parents deserve our honor and respect for giving us life itself. Beyond this they almost always made countless sacrifices as they cared for and nurtured us through our infancy and childhood, provided us with the necessities of life, and nursed us through physical illnesses and the emotional stresses of growing up.
We are an overfed and undernourished nation digging an early grave with our teeth.
Every man eventually is backed up to the wall of faith, and there he must make his stand.
Grown men may learn from very little children, for the hearts of little children are pure, and, therefore, the Great Spirit may show to them many things which older people miss.
I am like a man so busy in letting rooms in one end of his house, that he can't stop to put out the fire that is burning the other.
I covet truth; beauty is unripe childhood's cheat; I leave it behind with the games of youth.
I forgot more than you'll ever know.
A lazy person, whatever the talents with which he set out, will have condemned himself to second-hand thoughts and to second-rate friends.
In Greece wise men speak and fools decide.
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