The honest ratepayer and his healthy family have no doubt often mocked at the dome-like forehead of the philosopher, and laughed over the strange perspective of the landscape that lies beneath him. If they really knew who he was, they would tremble. For Chuang Tsu spent his life in preaching the great creed of Inaction, and in pointing out the uselessness of all things.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- People mock philosophers without understanding their teachings; if they knew, they'd be humbled.
- In plain terms
- Mocking philosophers shows ignorance of their wisdom.
- What can you take from it?
- Seek understanding before ridicule.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why do we mock what we don't understand?
- How can humility change discourse?
Another view
Not all philosophers are profound; some are obscure.
More from Oscar Wilde
A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it.
Permalink to quote #8 Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.
Permalink to quote #10 Be warned in time, James, and remain, as I, do, incomprehensible: to be great is to be misunderstood.
Permalink to quote #7
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