To say 'I love you' one must first be able to say the 'I.'
Ayn RandRead
The uncontested absurdities of today are the accepted slogans of tomorrow. They come to be accepted by degrees, by dint of constant pressure on one side and constant retreat on the other - until one day when they are suddenly declared to be the country's official ideology.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Societal norms and beliefs often shift from absurdity to acceptance over time through gradual influence and pressure.
Ayn Rand's quote suggests that what is considered absurd or illogical in one era can eventually become the widely accepted ideology in another. This transformation occurs slowly, influenced by persistent persuasion and the gradual abandonment of opposing viewpoints. As beliefs are molded and altered through societal forces, those once deemed irrational may become pillars of the national thought, illustrating how human perceptions change and evolve over time.
Themes
AbsurdityIdeologySocietyBeliefPressure
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about changing social norms, one might quote this to highlight how perceptions shift over generations.
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I think that when in doubt about the truth of an issue, it's safer and in better taste to select the least numerous of the adversaries.
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