Every island to a child is a treasure island.
P. D. JamesRead
It's possible to fight intolerance, stupidity and fanaticism when they come separately. When you get all three together it's probably wiser to get out, if only to preserve your sanity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
One should avoid situations where intolerance, stupidity, and fanaticism combine, as it can threaten one's mental wellbeing.
P. D. James highlights the dangers of encountering intolerance, stupidity, and fanaticism simultaneously. While it's feasible to confront each of these issues individually, facing them together can be overwhelming. This quote suggests that in such dire circumstances, it may be more prudent to distance oneself to maintain one's peace of mind and sanity.
Themes
IntoleranceStupidityFanaticismSanityWisdom
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate about controversial topics, one might use this quote to emphasize the need to walk away when discussions become hostile.
More from P. D. James
All quotes βIf from infancy you treat children as gods, they are liable in adulthood to act as devils.
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I believe that political correctness can be a form of linguistic fascism, and it sends shivers down the spine of my generation who went to war against fascism.
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What a child doesn't receive he can seldom later give.
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Open your mind to new experiences, particularly to the study of other Βpeople. Nothing that happens to a writer β however happy, however tragic β is ever wasted.
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It was one of those perfect English autumnal days which occur more frequently in memory than in life.
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