I like to watch the news, because I don't like people very much and when you watch the news... if you ever had an idea that people were really terrible, you could watch the news and know that you're right.
Frank ZappaRead
One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that individuals are unlikely to change their beliefs unless they already align with the speaker's perspective.
Frank Zappa's quote reflects a fundamental truth about human psychology and communication; it implies that attempts to persuade others often fall flat unless there is a pre-existing agreement. This observation supports the idea that most people reinforce their existing beliefs instead of being swayed by opposing viewpoints, highlighting the challenges of effective debate and discussion.
Themes
BeliefsPersuasionCommunicationChangePhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote during a debate to illustrate the difficulty of changing deeply held beliefs.
More from Frank Zappa
All quotes βThe richest people in the world aren't particularly smart or happy. And the happiest people in the world aren't particularly smart or rich.β¦ That leaves me making music. But we can't talk about that.
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Bad facts make bad law, and people who write bad laws are in my opinion more dangerous than songwriters who celebrate sexuality. Freedom of speech, freedom of religious thought, and the right to due process for composers, performers and retailers are imperiled if the PMRC and the major labels consummate this nasty bargain.
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Don't mind your make-up, you'd better make your mind up.
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Music is always a commentary on society.
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I'm more interested in melodic things. I think the biggest challenge when you go to play a solo is trying to invent a melody on the spot.
Frank ZappaRead
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