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About this quote

What does it mean?
Heroism stems from acting without deep thought, and rulers rely on unthinking masses to stay in power.
In plain terms
People act bravely when they do not overthink; rulers keep them unthinking to survive.
What can you take from it?
Question the role of ignorance in maintaining authority.

Where it applies

  • political leadership
  • social critique
  • heroic narratives

Putting it to work

  • critique authority
  • educate populations
  • analyze motives

Questions to consider

  • Does ignorance help or hinder progress?
  • Is heroism truly thoughtless?

Another view

Heroism often requires deliberate thought and planning.

More from Ernest Renan

  1. To be free in an age like ours, one must be in a position of authority. That in itself would be enough to make me ambitious.

    Permalink to quote #1
  2. He whom God has touched will always be a being apart: he is, whatever he may do, a stranger among men; he is marked by a sign.

    Permalink to quote #3
  3. In morals, truth is but little prized when it is a mere sentiment, and only attains its full value when realized in the world as fact.

    Permalink to quote #4

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