“It is a dangerous and fateful presumption, besides the absurd temerity that it implies, to disdain what we do not comprehend. For after you have established, according to your fine undertstanding, the limits of truth and falsehood, and it turns out that you must necessarily believe things even stranger than those you deny, you are obliged from then on to abandon these limits.”
Modern Relevance
In today's world of constantly evolving technology and knowledge, Montaigne's words still hold true. The dangers of dismissing or belittling ideas or concepts simply because they are beyond our current understanding can limit our growth and hinder our ability to adapt to new information. This quote serves as a reminder to remain open-minded and willing to explore beyond our preconceived notions.
Analysis of Montaigne's Quote
In this quote, Montaigne warns against the dangers of dismissing or belittling things that we do not fully understand. He criticizes the arrogance and audacity of those who think they have a complete grasp of truth and falsehood, only to later realize that they must accept beliefs that are even stranger than those they previously denied. This quote underscores the importance of humility and open-mindedness in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. It serves as a reminder that our understanding of truth is limited and constantly evolving.
Montaigne on the dangers of presuming to understand everything
"It is a dangerous and fateful presumption, besides the absurd temerity that it implies, to disdain what we do not comprehend. For after you have established, according to your fine undertaking, the limits of truth and falsehood, and it turns out that you must necessarily believe things even stranger than those you deny, you are obliged from then on to abandon these limits." - Montaigne
Reflection Questions
Montaigne's quote reminds us of the danger in dismissing things we do not understand. Reflect on the following questions to explore your own beliefs and attitudes towards unfamiliar concepts:
Have you ever dismissed or judged something without fully understanding it? How did this impact your perception of the subject?
How can acknowledging the limits of our understanding help us approach new ideas with an open mind and humility?
Can you think of a time when you were proven wrong about something you previously believed to be false or absurd? How did this experience shape your perspective on truth and knowledge?
In what ways can embracing the unknown and accepting the possibility of believing in "strange" ideas broaden our intellectual horizons and challenge our preconceptions?
Similar quotes
“[God says] Discipleship is not limited to what you can comprehend - it must transcend all comprehension. Plunge into the deep waters beyond your own comprehension, and I will help you to comprehend even as I do. Bewilderment is the true comprehension. Not to know where you are going is the true knowledge. My comprehension transcends yours.”
“Don't limit yourself and don't let others convince you that you are limited in what you can do. Believe in yourself and then live so as to reach your possibilities. You can achieve what you believe you can. Trust and believe and have faith.”
“Justice implies knowledge of the right and proper place for a thing or a being to be; of right as against wrong; of the mean and limit; of spiritual gain as against loss; of truth as against falsehood.”
“Falsehood is so easy, truth so difficult....Examine your words well, and you will find that even when you have no motive to be false, it is a very hard thing to say the exact truth, even about your own immediate feelings -- much harder than to say something fine about them which is not the exact truth.”
“This is the most important lesson you must learn about magic," Miss Ochiba went on. "There are many ways of seeing. Each has an element of truth, but none is the whole truth. If you limit yourselves to one way of seeing, one truth, you will limit your power. You will also place limits on the kinds of spells you can cast, as well as their strength. To be a good magician, you must see in many ways. You must be flexible. You must be willing to learn from different sources. And you must always remember that the truths you see are incomplete.”