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About this quote

What does it mean?
Even true beliefs become dead dogma if not discussed fully and fearlessly.
In plain terms
True beliefs die if you do not constantly debate them.
What can you take from it?
Engage in free and frequent discussion to keep beliefs alive.

Where it applies

  • academic debate
  • theology
  • political discourse

Putting it to work

  • facilitate open discussion
  • review beliefs
  • teach critical debate

Questions to consider

  • How do beliefs die?
  • Is debate necessary for all truths?

Another view

Constant debate can sometimes lead to decision paralysis.

More from John Stuart Mill

  1. No one can be a great thinker who does not recognise, that as a thinker it is his first duty to follow his intellect to whatever conclusions it may lead. Truth…

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  2. All languages and literatures are full of general observations on life, both as to what it is, and how to conduct oneself in it; observations which everybody k…

    Permalink to quote #40
  3. Penalties for opinion, or at least for its expression, still exist by law; and their enforcement is not, even in these times, so unexampled as to make it at al…

    Permalink to quote #37

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