Some recent philosophers seem to have given their moral approval to these deplorable verdicts that affirm that the intelligence of an individual is a fixed quantity, a quantity that cannot be augmented. We must protest and react against this brutal pessimism; we will try to demonstrate that it is founded on nothing.
Interpretation
This quote challenges the notion that intelligence is unchangeable and criticizes those who accept this view.
Alfred Binet expresses concern over a philosophical perspective that regards individual intelligence as a static trait, implying that some recent thinkers unjustly moralize this idea. He argues for a reaction against this 'brutal pessimism' and seeks to show that this belief lacks a solid foundation, encouraging a view of intelligence as something that can be developed and improved.
In practice
In a discussion about educational reform, this quote can highlight the importance of fostering growth in intelligence.
A few modern philosopher's assert that an individual's intelligence is a fixed quantity, a quantity which cannot be increased. We must protest and react against this brutal pessimism.... With practice, training, and above all, method, we manage to increase our attention, our memory, our judgment and literally to become more intelligent than we were before.
He who understands the limits of life knows that it is easy to obtain that which removes the pain of want and makes the whole of life complete and perfect. Thus he has no longer any need of things which involve struggle.
A court is an assembly of noble and distinguished beggars.
If we are a metaphor of the universe, the human couple is the metaphor par excellence, the point of intersection of all forces and the seed of all forms. The couple is time recaptured, the return to the time before time.
The brain seems a thoroughfare for nerve-action passing its way to the motor animal. It has been remarked that Life's aim is an act not a thought. To-day the dictum must be modified to admit that, often, to refrain from an act is no less an act than to commit one, because inhibition is coequally with excitation a nervous activity.
In a culture where profit has become the true God, self-sacrifice can seem incomprehensible rather than noble.
Every fact in the universe will fit every other fact in the universe. A lie never did, never will fit anything but another lie made to fit it. Never, never!
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