Merely having an open mind is nothing; the object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.

Summary

This quote emphasizes that simply having an open mind is not sufficient. It suggests that the purpose of opening one's mind is to eventually settle on a firm and well-founded belief or idea. Just as we open our mouths to speak and eventually close them around something solid, the quote implies that the goal of broadening our perspectives is to arrive at a well-informed conclusion or understanding. It emphasizes the importance of critically analyzing and discerning information rather than blindly accepting everything without thoughtful consideration.

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