He is a fool who looks at the fruit of lofty trees, but does not measure their height.
Quintus Curtius RufusRead
When the truth cannot be clearly made out, what is false is increased through fear.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Fear can distort perceptions of truth, leading to false beliefs.
This quote suggests that when the truth is obscured or unclear, people tend to fill the gaps with falsehoods, driven by fear. In times of uncertainty, the human tendency to fear the unknown leads to an increase in misguided beliefs and assumptions, highlighting the importance of seeking clarity and understanding.
Themes
TruthFearFalsehoodBeliefsPerception
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about facing fears and uncertainties.
More from Quintus Curtius Rufus
All quotes βA timid dog barks more violently than it bites. Curtius Canis timidus vehementius latrat quam mordet
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