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Poetry · Chapter
CXXXVI explained
A brief aphorism on the nature of belief and conviction, contrasting the rigid faith of fools with the evolving views of the wise.
What happens
A brief aphorism on the nature of belief and conviction, contrasting the rigid faith of fools with the evolving views of the wise.
Key passages
“He who thinks with difficulty believes with alacrity.”
Those who struggle to think for themselves are quick to accept beliefs from others.
Highlights the inverse relationship between critical thinking and credulity.
“A fool is a natural proselyte, but he must be caught young, for his convictions, unlike those of the wise, harden with age.”
A foolish person is easily converted to a belief, but only if indoctrinated early, because their convictions become more rigid over time, unlike the adaptable views of the wise.
Contrasts the fixed beliefs of fools with the flexible wisdom of the thoughtful.