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.
More from Pierre Bayle
All quotes βSimilar quotes
In the nineteenth century the problem was that God is dead. In the twentieth century the problem is that man is dead.
Erich FrommRead
For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast, And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed; And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill, And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever grew still!
Lord ByronRead
We vary greatly in the natural advantages that we've been given. The world's not fair
Malcolm GladwellRead
The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.
George WashingtonRead
When we preach the love of God there is a danger of forgetting that the Bible reveals not first the love of God but the intense, blazing holiness of God, with His love at the center of that holiness.
Oswald ChambersRead
I am neither male nor female, nor am I sexless. I am the Peaceful One, whose form is self-effulgent, powerful radiance.
Guru NanakRead