Wisdom becomes nonsense in the mouth of a fanatic.

Wisdom becomes nonsense in the mouth of a fanatic.

If the freedom of religion, guaranteed to us by law in theory, can ever rise in practice under the overbearing read more

If the freedom of religion, guaranteed to us by law in theory, can ever rise in practice under the overbearing inquisition of public opinion, then and only then will truth, prevail over fanaticism

I wish there were some cure, like the lover's leap, for all heads
of which some single idea has read more

I wish there were some cure, like the lover's leap, for all heads
of which some single idea has obtained an unreasonable and
irregular possession.

As any action or posture long continued will distort and
disfigure the limbs; so the mind likewise is crippled read more

As any action or posture long continued will distort and
disfigure the limbs; so the mind likewise is crippled and
contracted by perpetual application to the same set of ideas.

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.

The fanatic is incorruptible: if he kills for an idea, he can just as well get himself killed for one; read more

The fanatic is incorruptible: if he kills for an idea, he can just as well get himself killed for one; in either case, tyrant or martyr, he is a monster.

We call Japanese soldiers fanatics when they die rather than
surrender, whereas American soldiers who do the same thing read more

We call Japanese soldiers fanatics when they die rather than
surrender, whereas American soldiers who do the same thing are
called heroes.

Fanaticism consists of redoubling your efforts when you have
forgotten your aim.

Fanaticism consists of redoubling your efforts when you have
forgotten your aim.

There is nobody as enslaved as the fanatic, the person in whom one impulse, one value, has assumed ascendancy over read more

There is nobody as enslaved as the fanatic, the person in whom one impulse, one value, has assumed ascendancy over all others.