It is wrong to think that belief in freedom always leads to victory; we must always be prepared for it to lead to defeat. If we choose freedom, then we must be prepared to perish along with it.
Interpretation
Believing in freedom does not guarantee success and may result in loss; true commitment to freedom entails accepting its risks.
This quote by Karl Popper highlights the harsh reality of choosing freedom. It suggests that simply believing in freedom does not ensure victory or success; instead, one must accept the possibility of defeat. The implication is that true freedom comes with great responsibility and risks, including the potential for suffering or loss. Popper calls for a courageous acceptance of these risks when one chooses the path of freedom.
In practice
This quote could be used in a speech about the importance of advocating for civil liberties.
The growth of our knowledge is the result of a process closely resembling what Darwin called 'natural selection'; that is, the natural selection of hypotheses: our knowledge consists, at every moment, of those hypotheses which have shown their (comparative) fitness by surviving so far in their struggle for existence, a competitive struggle which eliminates those hypotheses which are unfit.
If you can't say it simply and clearly, keep quiet, and keep working on it till you can.
No particular theory may ever be regarded as absolutely certain.... No scientific theory is sacrosanct.
The belief in a political Utopia is especially dangerous. This is possibly connected with the fact that the search for a better world, like the investigation of our environment, is (if I am correct) one of the oldest and most important of all the instincts.
A rationalist is simply someone for whom it is more important to learn than to be proved right; someone who is willing to learn from others - not by simply taking over another's opinions, but by gladly allowing others to criticize his ideas and by gladly criticizing the ideas of others
Thus science must begin with myths, and with the criticism of myths; neither with the collection of observations, nor with the invention of experiments, but with the critical discussion of myths, and of magical techniques and practices.
Competing is intense among humans, and within a group, selfish individuals always win. But in contests between groups, groups of altruists always beat groups of selfish individuals.
Diseases of the soul are more dangerous and more numerous than those of the body.
How is the world ruled and led to war? Diplomats lie to journalists and believe these lies when they see them in print.
I have suffered from being misunderstood, but I would have suffered a hell of a lot more if I had been understood.
Perhaps life is actually more confusing and unknowable to an adult than a child, but grown-ups have learned to deceive themselves and act as if they understand what's going on; and some are elected to high office on the basis of their ability to create this impression.
Alone of all the races on earth, they seem to be free from the 'Grass is Greener on the other side of the fence' syndrome, and roundly proclaim that Australia is, in fact, the other side of that fence.
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