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About this quote

What does it mean?
Mises claims there is a deep divide between people who can think independently and those who cannot.
In plain terms
People who think for themselves are completely separated from those who do not.
What can you take from it?
Independent thinking creates a major divide between people.

Where it applies

  • discussions on education
  • intellectual debates
  • social stratification

Putting it to work

  • promote critical thinking
  • value independent thought

Questions to consider

  • What stops people from thinking for themselves?
  • Is independent thinking a choice or a privilege?

Another view

This overlooks the fact that anyone can learn to think independently with effort.

More from Ludwig von Mises

  1. Reason's biological function is to preserve and promote life and to postpone its extinction as long as possible. Thinking and acting are not contrary to nature…

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  2. The criterion of truth is that it works even if nobody is prepared to acknowledge it.

    Permalink to quote #36
  3. It is the worst of all superstitions to assume that the epistemological characteristics of one branch of knowledge must necessarily be applicable to any other …

    Permalink to quote #33

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