QuoteProject
Men think they think upon the great political questions, and they do; but they think with their party, not independently; they read its literature, but not that of the other side
Mark Twain
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

People often form opinions based on their political affiliations rather than independent thought.

Mark Twain highlights how individuals may believe they are engaging in deep political reasoning, yet their thoughts are largely influenced by their political party. This illustrates the challenges of unbiased thinking in society where people tend to consume information that aligns with their existing beliefs, neglecting opposing viewpoints that could lead to a more well-rounded understanding.

Themes

PoliticsIndependenceThoughtBiasPerspective

In practice

Example use cases

During a debate on social media, this quote can be used to remind others about the importance of seeking different perspectives.

More from Mark Twain

Weather is a literary specialty, and no untrained hand can turn out a good article on it
Mark TwainRead
The easy part of being an artist is figuring out the message that everyone else is ready to hear. The hard part is waiting for the proper lull to make the announcement.
Mark TwainRead
You can't reason with your heart; it has its own laws, and thumps about things which the intellect scorns.
Mark TwainRead
To be good is noble; but to show others how to be good is nobler and no trouble.
Mark TwainRead
Name the greatest of all inventors. Accident.
Mark TwainRead
In Paris they just simply opened their eyes and stared when we spoke to them in French! We never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language.
Mark TwainRead

Similar quotes

Even the most beautiful scenery is no longer assured of our love after we have lived in it for three months, and some distant coast attracts our avarice: possessions are generally diminished by possession.
Friedrich NietzscheRead
Physically there is nothing to distinguish human society from the farm-yard except that children are more troublesome and costly than chickens and calves and that men and women are not so completely enslaved as farm stock.
George Bernard ShawRead
I can see he's not in your good books,' said the messenger. 'No, and if he were I would burn my library.
William ShakespeareRead
You're like the thief who isn't the least bit sorry he stole, but is terribly, terribly sorry he's going to jail. - Rhett Butler
Margaret MitchellRead
The simplicity of the universe is very different from the simplicity of a machine. The simplicity of nature is not that which may be easily read but is inexhaustible. The last analysis can no wise be made.
Ralph Waldo EmersonRead
But why do some people support [the heretics]?" "Because it serves their purposes, which concern the faith rarely, and more often the conquest of power." "Is that why the church of Rome accuses all its adversaries of heresy?" "That is why, and that is also why it recognizes as orthodoxy any heresy it can bring back under its own control or must accept because the heresy has become too strong.
Umberto EcoRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.