It is wrong for a man to say that he is certain of the objective truth of any proposition unless he can produce evidence which logically justifies that certainty.
Thomas HuxleyRead
Let us have "sweet girl graduates" by all means. They will be none the less sweet for a little wisdom; and the "golden hair" will not curl less gracefully outside the head by reason of there being brains within.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Intelligence and wisdom do not detract from beauty or sweetness.
This quote by Thomas Huxley emphasizes that a woman's beauty, symbolized by 'sweetness' and 'golden hair', is not diminished by her intelligence or wisdom. It suggests that possessing knowledge and brains can coexist with traditional notions of beauty, ultimately enhancing one's overall character rather than detracting from it.
Themes
WisdomBeautyIntelligenceEducationStrength
In practice
Example use cases
In a graduation speech to encourage students to value both their intellect and their individuality.
More from Thomas Huxley
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It is the first duty of a hypothesis to be intelligible.
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Of the few innocent pleasures left to men past middle life, the jamming of common sense down the throats of fools is perhaps the keenest.
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The scientific spirit is of more value than its products, and irrationally held truths may be more harmful than reasoned errors.
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