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About this quote

What does it mean?
Zealous attacks on error can fail and leave one vulnerable to those they oppose.
In plain terms
Attacking error too rashly can make you lose truth.
What can you take from it?
Patience matters more than zeal in seeking truth.

Where it applies

  • intellectual debate
  • advocacy

Putting it to work

  • careful argumentation
  • strategic patience

Questions to consider

  • When does zeal hurt truth?
  • How to defend ideas well?

Another view

It implies truth can be surrendered like a city.

More from Sir Thomas Browne

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