We ought not to extract pernicious honey from poison blossoms of misrepresentation and mendacious half-truth, to pamper the course appetite of bigotry and self-love.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
To all new truths, or renovation of old truths, it must be as in the ark between the destroyed and the about-to-be renovated world. The raven must be sent out before the dove, and ominous controversy must precede peace and the olive wreath.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the process of change and the necessity of controversy in achieving new truths.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge's quote reflects the journey of transformation, suggesting that in order to establish new truths or to revitalize old ones, one must first experience the tumult of conflict and controversy. Just as in the biblical story of Noah's Ark, where the raven symbolizes a necessary preliminary search before the dove, which brings peace, Coleridge underscores that true progress often necessitates a period of struggle before harmony can be achieved.
Themes
TruthChangeControversyPeaceTransformation
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about the importance of social movements and the controversies that drive change.
More from Samuel Taylor Coleridge
All quotes →Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
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And all who heard should see them there, And all should cry, Beware! Beware! His flashing eyes, his floating hair! Weave a circle round him thrice, And close your eyes with holy dread, For he on honey-dew hath fed, And drunk the milk of Paradise.
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Often do the spirits stride on before the event; and in today already walks tomorrow.
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Mr. Lyell's system of geology is just half the truth, and no more. He affirms a great deal that is true, and he denies a great deal which is equally true; which is the general characteristic of all systems not embracing the whole truth.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
To believe and to understand are not diverse things, but the same things in different periods of growth.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
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