And enough for me that when my hand touched your shoulder, you leaned on me; and when you felt me slip away, you called my name.
Orson Scott CardRead
A good working definition of fanaticism is that you are so convinced of your views and policies that you are sure that anyone who opposed them must be either stupid and decieved or have some ulterior motive. We are today a nation where almost everyone in the public eye displays fanaticism with every utterance.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Fanaticism involves an unwavering belief in one's views, characterizing opposition as ignorance or malice.
Orson Scott Card's quote critiques the nature of fanaticism, highlighting how it leads individuals to dismiss opposing viewpoints as either a sign of ignorance or a hidden agenda. He observes that this mindset is prevalent in society today, particularly among public figures, suggesting that such dogmatism inhibits meaningful discourse and understanding.
Themes
FanaticismBeliefIgnoranceOppositionSociety
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate about politics, someone could use this quote to highlight the dangers of extreme partisanship.
More from Orson Scott Card
All quotes →The world is always a democracy in times of flux, and the man with the best voice will win.
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Never mind that the story had turned out to be lies and foolishness—there was always folks stupid enough to say, Where there's smoke there's fire, when the saying should have been, Where there's scandalous lies there's always malicious believers and spreaders-around, regardless of evidence.
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The lives of all people flow through time, and, regardless of how brutal one moment may be, how filled with grief or pain or fear, time flows through all lives equally.
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You take a step, then another. That's the journey. But to take a step with your eyes open is not a journey at all, it's a remaking of your own mind.
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I've had your tears with mine, and you've had mine with yours. I think that's more intimate even than a kiss.
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