One of the chief obstacles to intelligence is credulity, and credulity could be enormously diminished by instructions as to the prevalent forms of mendacity. Credulity is a greater evil in the present day than it ever was before, because, owing to the growth of education, it is much easier than it used to be to spread misinformation, and, owing to democracy, the spread of misinformation is more important than in former times to the holders of power.

Summary

This quote suggests that one of the main barriers to intelligence is the tendency to believe things too readily, or credulity. The quote argues that this issue has become even more significant in today's society due to increased access to education and the ease with which misinformation can be spread. Additionally, in a democratic society, the propagation of misleading information holds greater importance for those in positions of power. The quote implies that by providing guidance on common forms of deception, the problem of credulity can be reduced, allowing for greater intelligence and critical thinking.

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