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About this quote

What does it mean?
Deep skepticism can support existing conventions because it questions whether critics are truly better than the status quo.
In plain terms
Being very skeptical can make people accept normal rules since critics might be wrong too.
What can you take from it?
Be cautious of radical criticism if you are deeply skeptical.

Where it applies

  • political debate
  • organizational change
  • moral reasoning

Putting it to work

  • weigh skepticism against potential for reform
  • question both sides of a debate

Questions to consider

  • How does skepticism affect your view of society?
  • When is it right to challenge conventions?

Another view

This assumes all conventions are equally true or false, ignoring that some are demonstrably better.

More from George Santayana

  1. The living have never shown me how to live.

    Permalink to quote #37

  2. All living souls welcome whatever they are ready to cope with; all else they ignore, or pronounce to be monstrous and wrong, or deny to be possible.

    Permalink to quote #39

  3. The young man who has not wept is a savage, and the older man who will not laugh is a fool.

    Permalink to quote #40

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