No amount of manifest absurdity... could deter those who wanted to believe from believing.
Bernard LevinRead
Ask a man which way he is going to vote, and he will probably tell you. Ask him, however, why, and vagueness is all.
Interpretation
People often know their choices but lack the reasoning behind them.
This quote highlights the difference between knowing what one is going to do, such as voting, and understanding the motivations and reasoning behind that choice. It suggests that while individuals can easily express their decisions, delving into the reasons can reveal a lack of clarity or understanding, exposing the complexity of human decision-making.
In practice
During a political discussion, you can quote this to emphasize the importance of understanding one's beliefs.
No amount of manifest absurdity... could deter those who wanted to believe from believing.
What has happened to architecture since the second world war that the only passers-by who can contemplate it without pain are those equipped with a white stick and a dog?
If we expected self-reliance of family groups, if we expected hardiness and resilience and initiative on the part of individuals, and if we rewarded initiative instead of dependence on government, we would not only ameliorate many of the family-related social problems we see at present, but we would also reduce our vulnerability to terrorism. People who are hardy, resilient, and self reliant are a lot harder to terrorize.
Thoughts are like drops of water: with our thoughts we can drown in a sea of negativity, or we can float on the ocean of life.
Destiny is usually just around the corner. Like a thief, a hooker, or a lottery vendor: its three most common personifications. But what destiny does not do is home visits. You have to go for it.
Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habit.
In an age of acceleration, nothing can be more exhilarating than going slow.
The faults of a superior person are like the sun and moon. They have their faults, and everyone sees them; they change and everyone looks up to them.
A human being is only interesting if he's in contact with himself. I learned you have to trust yourself, be what you are, and do what you ought to do the way you should do it. You have got to discover you, what you do, and trust it.
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