The antiquity and general acceptance of an opinion is not assurance of its truth.
Pierre BayleRead
In matters of religion, it is very easy to deceive a man and very hard to undeceive him.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People can be easily misled in their beliefs, especially about religion, but it is challenging to change those beliefs once they are established.
This quote by Pierre Bayle highlights the susceptibility of individuals to deception in matters of faith and belief. Once a person has formed a belief, particularly in the realm of religion, it becomes a formidable task to alter that belief, even in the face of evidence or reasoning. This signifies the deep-rooted nature of conviction and the complexities involved in changing one's perspective.
Themes
ReligionBeliefDeceptionUnderstandingConviction
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about religious beliefs, one might say this quote to emphasize how ingrained convictions can be.
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When the Englishman speaks of national wealth he means the number of millionaires in the country.
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