You will become way less concerned with what other people think of you when you realize how seldom they do.
David Foster WallaceRead
The Sophists had this idea: Forget this idea of what's true or not—what you want to do is rhetoric; you want to be able to persuade the audience and have the audience think you're smart and cool. And Socrates and Plato, basically their whole idea is, "Bullshit. There is such a thing as truth, and it's not all just how to say what you say so that you get a good job or get laid, or whatever it is people think they want.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques the Sophists' approach to knowledge, emphasizing the importance of seeking truth over persuasion.
David Foster Wallace contrasts the Sophists, who prioritize rhetoric and persuasion, with Socrates and Plato, who advocate for the pursuit of truth. He underscores the idea that authenticity and genuine understanding should take precedence over the mere ability to impress others with eloquence or charm.
Themes
TruthRhetoricPhilosophyPersuasionSophists
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about ethics, one could quote this to emphasize the need for genuine truth in discussions.
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Under fun's new administration, writing fiction becomes a way to go deep inside yourself and illuminate precisely the stuff you don't want to see or let anyone else see, and this stuff usually turns out (paradoxically) to be precisely the stuff all writers and readers share and respond to, feel.
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