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
I do not say think as I think, but think in my way. Fear no shadows, least of all in that great spectre of personal unhappiness which binds half the world to orthodoxy.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Embrace individuality in thought and challenge conventional norms to avoid personal unhappiness.
Thomas Huxley's quote emphasizes the importance of original thinking and the courage to forge one's own path rather than conforming to societal expectations. He warns against being bound by the shadows of conventional beliefs, which can lead to widespread unhappiness, advocating instead for a more personal and distinctive approach to understanding life and its challenges.
Themes
IndividualityThoughtOrthodoxyHappinessFearCourage
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about embracing individuality and creativity.
More from Thomas Huxley
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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.
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The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of childhood into maturity.
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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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