No member of a society has a right to teach any doctrine contrary to what the society holds to be true.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that individuals in a society should not promote beliefs that contradict the established truths of that society.
Samuel Johnson's quote reflects the idea that social cohesion relies on shared beliefs and values. When individuals teach doctrines that contradict these established truths, it can lead to conflict and instability within the society. This statement invites reflection on the responsibilities of individuals in disseminating information and the potential consequences of challenging commonly accepted ideas.
In practice
In a debate about education reform, this quote highlights the importance of aligning teaching practices with societal values.
To be of no church is dangerous. Religion, of which the rewards are distant, and which is animated only by faith and hope, will glide by degrees out of the mind unless it be invigorated and reimpressed by external ordinances, by stated calls to worship, and the salutary influence of example.
He that reads and grows no wiser seldom suspects his own deficiency, but complains of hard words and obscure sentences, and asks why books are written which cannot be understood.
To let friendship die away by negligence and silence is certainly not wise. It is voluntarily to throw away one of the greatest comforts of the weary pilgrimage.
Fly-fishing may be a very pleasant amusement; but angling or float fishing I can only compare to a stick and a string, with a worm at one end and a fool at the other.
When any anxiety or gloom of the mind takes hold of you, make it a rule not to publish it by complaining; but exert yourselves to hide it, and by endeavoring to hide it you drive it away.
A fishing rod is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool at the other.
America is the only country ever founded on the printed word.
Totalitarian states killed with impunity and no one was held accountable. That didn't happen in the West.
Government has been a fossil: it should be a plant.
We identify the flag with almost everything we hold dear on earth, peace, security, liberty, our family, our friends, our home. . .But when we look at our flag and behold it emblazoned with all our rights we must remember that it is equally a symbol of our duties. Every glory that we associate with it is the result of duty done.
Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governour of the Universe: And if a member of Civil Society, do it with a saving of his allegiance to the Universal Sovereign. We maintain therefore that in matters of Religion, no man's right is abridged by the institution of Civil Society and that Religion is wholly exempt from its cognizance.
Legislators, priests, philosophers, writers, ans scientists have striven to show that the subordinate position of woman is willed in heaven and advantageous on earth.
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