Now, the value of an idea has nothing whatsoever to do with the sincerity of the man who expresses it. Indeed, the probabilities are that the more insincere the man is, the more purely intellectual will the idea be, as in that case it will not be coloured by either his wants, his desires, or his prejudices.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- An idea's worth is independent of the speaker's sincerity; insincere speakers may produce purer ideas free from personal bias.
- In plain terms
- Ideas can be valuable even if the speaker is not sincere.
- What can you take from it?
- Judge ideas on their own merit, not on who says them.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How can we separate an idea from its presenter?
- Do we ever fully know a speaker's sincerity?
Another view
Insincere motives can still distort the presentation of an idea.
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