Saturday, November 05, 2016
Pointing Out the Obvious
George Santayana (1863-1952), Scepticism and Animal Faith (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1923), p. 77:
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There is some danger in pointing out the obvious. Quick wits, perceiving at once how obvious the obvious is (though they may never have noticed it before), will say it is futile and silly to dwell upon it. Pugnacious people will assume that you mean more than you say, and are attempting to smuggle in some objectionable dogma under your truisms. Finally, docile minds, pleased to think you are delivering an oracle for their edification, will bow before your plain words as before some sacred mystery.
