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When any opinion leads us into absurdities, 'tis certainly false; but 'tis not certain an opinion is false, because 'tis of dangerous consequence.
-David Hume
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When Any Opinion Leads Us Into Absurdities,

David Hume
When any opinion leads us into absurdities, 'tis certainly false; but 'tis not certain an opinion is false, because 'tis of dangerous consequence.
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Philosophical Opinion Certain

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There is no method of reasoning more common, and yet none more blameable, than, in philosophical disputes, to endeavour the refutation of any hypothesis, by a pretence of its dangerous consequences to religion and morality. when any opinion leads to absurdities, it is certainly false; but it is not certain that an opinion is false, because it is of dangerous consequence. such topics, therefore, ought entirely to be forborne; as serving nothing to the discovery of truth, but only to make the person of an antagonist odious.
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The 'public' is a phantom, the phantom of an opinion supposed to exist in a vast number of persons who have no effective interrelation and though the opinion is not effectively present in the units. such an opinion is spoken of as 'public opinion,' a fiction which is appealed to by individuals and by groups as supporting their special views. it is impalpable, illusory, transient; "'tis here, 'tis there, 'tis gone"; a nullity which can nevertheless for a moment endow the multitude with power to uplift or destroy.
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ِan offer you can't refuse.
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It is fear which leads us to war, ... it is fear which leads us to believe that we must kill or be killed. fear which leads us to attack those who have not attacked us. fear which leads us to ring our nation in the very heavens with weapons of mass destruction.
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There has to be a consequence to failure. schools in the inner cities cannot be told, 'oh, we want you to teach every child to learn how to read and, incidentally, if you fail to do that there's no consequence,' .. there has to be a consequence to failure, and the title i money needs to follow the child.
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It is of dangerous consequence to represent to man how near he is to the level of beasts, without showing him at the same time his greatness. it is likewise dangerous to let him see his greatness without his meanness. it is more dangerous yet to leave him ignorant of either; but very beneficial that he should be made sensible of both.
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The greatness of a popular character is less according to the ratio of his genius than the sympathy he shows with the prejudices and even the absurdities of his time. fanatics do not select the cleverest but the most fanatical leaders as was evidenced in the choice of robespierre by the french jacobins, and in that of cromwell by the english puritans.
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Those who have read history with discrimination know the fallacy of those panegyrics and invectives which represent individuals as effecting great moral and intellectual revolutions, subverting established systems, and imprinting a new character on their age. the difference between one man and another is by no means so great as the superstitious crowd suppose.
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People do not always understand the motives of sublime conduct, and when they are astonished they are very apt to think they ought to be alarmed the truth is none are fit judges of greatness but those who are capable of it.
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