Human affairs inspire in noble hearts only two feelings-admiration or pity.
Anatole FranceRead
To die for an idea is to set a rather high price upon conjecture.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Valuing an idea highly can lead to extreme measures, often questioning its validity.
Anatole France's quote reflects on the extreme devotion people can have towards their beliefs and ideas. It suggests that sacrificing one's life for an idea might indicate an inflated sense of belief in its worth, and calls into question whether such a sacrifice is truly justifiable. The mention of 'conjecture' highlights that some ideas may not be solid truths but rather speculative thoughts, urging us to critically assess what we are willing to die for.
Themes
IdeaSacrificeBeliefConjecture
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a debate about the value of ideologies and their implications.
More from Anatole France
All quotes →Awaken people's curiosity. It is enough to open minds, do not overload them. Put there just a spark.
Anatole FranceRead
In its majestic equality, the law forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, beg in the streets and steal loaves of bread.
Anatole FranceRead
Justice is the means by which established injustices are sanctioned
Anatole FranceRead
There is a certain impertinence in allowing oneself to be burned for an opinion.
Anatole FranceRead
Lovers who love truly do not write down their happiness.
Anatole FranceRead
Similar quotes
Suddenly, madness was everywhere, and I was determined to learn about the impact it had on the way society evolves. I've always believed society to be a fundamentally rational thing, but what if it isn't? What if it is built on insanity?
Jon RonsonRead
Who made the world I cannot tell; 'Tis made, and here am I in hell. My hand, though now my knuckles bleed, I never soiled with such a deed.
A. E. HousmanRead
Celebration is a confrontation, giving attention to the transcendent meaning of one's actions.
Abraham Joshua HeschelRead
For a long time the fear of seeming singular scared me away; but by degrees, as people became accustomed to me and my habits, and to such shadows of peculiarity as were engrained in my nature - shades, certainly not striking enough to interest, and perhaps not prominent enough to offend, but born in and with me, and no more to be parted with than my identity - but slow degrees I became a frequenter of this straight narrow path.
Charlotte BronteRead
Those of us raised in the Christian tradition need to choose to either see God in Jesus or to continue to let the Bible define God. Our tradition says that Jesus is God. Maybe we should act as if we think he is instead of worshipping a book. Maybe we should be brave enough to admit that we are compelled to either become blinded ideologues or we need to forthrightly pick and choose what we follow in the Bible. Most Christians do that anyway, many just don’t admit it.
Frank SchaefferRead
The lunatic is all idée fixe, and whatever he comes across confirms his lunacy. You can tell him by the liberties he takes with common sense, by his flashes of inspiration, and by the fact that sooner or later he brings up the Templars.
Umberto EcoRead