It was obvious that bigotry was never a one-way operation, that hatred bred hatred!
Interpretation
Bigotry and hatred perpetuate themselves in a cycle, affecting all involved.
In this quote, Isaac Asimov addresses the nature of bigotry, suggesting that it is not an isolated phenomenon but rather a reciprocal one where hatred fosters more hatred. This cyclical relationship indicates that actions of prejudice not only harm the target but also reflect back on the perpetrator, creating a shared environment of animosity and misunderstanding.
In practice
In a debate on tolerance, a speaker might use this quote to emphasize the mutual harm of bigotry.
Democracy cannot survive overpopulation. Human dignity cannot survive it. Convenience and decency cannot survive it. As you put more and more people into the world, the value of life not only declines, but it disappears. It doesn't matter if someone dies.
Science does not promise absolute truth, nor does it consider that such a thing necessarily exists. Science does not even promise that everything in the Universe is amenable to the scientific process.
Democracy cannot survive overpopulation.
Although the time of death is approaching me, I am not afraid of dying and going to Hell or (what would be considerably worse) going to the popularized version of Heaven. I expect death to be nothingness and, for removing me from all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism.
A subtle thought that is in error may yet give rise to fruitful inquiry that can establish truths of great value.
During the century after Newton, it was still possible for a man of unusual attainments to master all fields of scientific knowledge. But by 1800, this had become entirely impracticable.
And I began to feel sorry for myself; for so many years, my drawer full of memories had held the same old stories.
We are here and it is now. Further than that, all human knowledge is moonshine.
If I'm going to be honest about it, I think men get to do this sort of thing all the time. You look at countless performances by great male actors who get to play the whole gamut of human emotions. Women aren't regularly allowed to do that, and I don't know why people are so frightened by it.
Such is the condition of life that something is always wanting to happiness. In youth we have warm hopes, which are soon blasted by rashness and negligence, and great designs which are defeated by inexperience. In age, we have knowledge and prudence, without spirit to exert, or motives to prompt them; we are able to plan schemes, and regulate measures, but have not time remaining to bring them to completion.
I am happy to report that in the war between reality and romance, reality is not the stronger.
A box is more a coffin for the human spirit than an inspiration.
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