Quote by Ethan A. Hitchcock
Notwithstanding this high Ecclesiastical authority, he who dared accept truth only because it could be proved, or proved to be good, and disregard authority, was commonly stigmatized as an infidel.
Summary
This quote suggests that during certain periods in history, individuals who embraced truth based on evidence or personal judgment rather than blind allegiance to authority were often condemned as infidels. It points to a time where religious or ecclesiastical authority held significant influence and dissenting opinions were not readily accepted. The quote argues that genuine seekers of truth should not be branded as infidels simply for questioning or challenging established authority.