Quote by Daniel J. Boorstin

I have observed that the world has suffered far less from ignorance than from pretensions to knowledge. It is not skeptics or explorers but fanatics and ideologues who menace decency and progress. No agnostic ever burned anyone at the stake or tortured a pagan, a heretic, or an unbeliever.

I have observed that the world has suffered far less from ig

Summary

This quote suggests that the world faces greater harm from those who claim to have absolute knowledge rather than from those who question or explore different perspectives. The speaker argues that fanatics and ideologues, driven by an unwavering belief in their own knowledge, pose a threat to decency and progress. By highlighting historical atrocities committed by staunch believers, such as burning people at the stake or torturing those who hold divergent views, the quote implies that embracing uncertainty, like agnostics, can lead to a more peaceful and tolerant world.

Topics

Knowledge

By Daniel J. Boorstin

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