Men who borrow their opinions can never repay their debts.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Adopting others' opinions without thinking for yourself leaves you indebted to them. You cannot repay borrowed thoughts.
- In plain terms
- Using others opinions without thinking means you owe them forever.
- What can you take from it?
- Form your own views to remain independent.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Whose opinions do you hold?
- Did you think them?
Another view
Learning from others is often how we form opinions.
More from George Savile
Many men swallow the being cheated, but no man can ever endure to chew it.
Permalink to quote #23 Most men make little use of their speech than to give evidence against their own understanding.
Permalink to quote #25 Malice is of a low stature, but it hath very long arms.
Permalink to quote #22
Related quotes
He who has an opinion of his own, but depends upon the opinion and taste of others, is a slave.
Friedrich Gottlieb KlopstockFriedrich Gottlieb Klopstock quote #1 Think for yourself and question authority.
Timothy LearyTimothy Leary quote #6 'Either you think - or else others have to think for you and take power from you, pervert and discipline your natural tastes, civilize and sterilize you.'
F. Scott FitzgeraldF. Scott Fitzgerald quote #7