“Some of the biggest cases of mistaken identity are among intellectuals who have trouble remembering that they are not God.”

— Thomas Sowell

Random Thoughts http://townhall.com/columnists/ThomasSowell/2007/05/01/random_thoughts, May 01, 2007 <br class="br">2000s

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Thomas Sowell101

American economist, social theorist, political philosopher … 1930

Wei Wu Wei (1895–1986) writer

Ask the Awakened: the Negative Way (1963)

“And try to stay out of trouble with the ladies. Remember, they all have fathers and brothers and some of them have armies.”

Jennifer Fallon book Lion of Senet

Source: Lion of Senet

“Most people are not intellectuals — a fact that intellectuals have terrible trouble coming to terms with.”

John Derbyshire (1945) writer

Source: The Wood Has Been Made Into a Boat http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/216568/wood-has-been-made-boat/john-derbyshire, National Review January 23, 2006.

“It must be remembered that we have only heard one side of the case. God has written all the books.”

Samuel Butler (1835–1902) novelist

An Apology for the Devil
The Note-Books of Samuel Butler (1912), Part XIV - Higgledy-Piggledy
Source: The Note Books of Samuel Butler

“Among the many strange servilities mistaken for pieties, one of the least lovely is that which hopes to flatter God by despising the world, and vilifying human nature.”

George Henry Lewes (1817–1878) British philosopher

Vol. 1, p. 23
The Foundations of a Creed (1874-5)

“The fathers did not themselves believe that they, or their companions, were always right. Augustine found himself mistaken in some cases and did not hesitate to retract his errors.”

Peter Abelard Sic et Non

Prologue as translated in Readings in European History, Vol. I (1904) edited by James Harvey Robinson, p. 450
Sic et Non (1120)
Context: Doubtless the fathers might err; even Peter, the prince of the apostles, fell into error: what wonder that the saints do not always show themselves inspired? The fathers did not themselves believe that they, or their companions, were always right. Augustine found himself mistaken in some cases and did not hesitate to retract his errors. He warns his admirers not to look upon his letters as they would upon the Scriptures, but to accept only those things which, upon examination, they find to be true.
All writings belonging to this class are to be read with full freedom to criticize, and with no obligation to accept unquestioningly; otherwise they way would be blocked to all discussion, and posterity be deprived of the excellent intellectual exercise of debating difficult questions of language and presentation.

“Mistaken ideas always end in bloodshed, but in every case it is someone else’s blood. That is why some of our thinkers feel free to say just about anything.”

Albert Camus (1913–1960) French author and journalist

Toute idée fausse finit dans le sang, mais il s'agit toujours du sang des autres. C'est ce qui explique que certains de nos philosophes se sentent à l'aise pour dire n'importe quoi.
Actuelles I, 1950