What do you think of this quote?

Question

"Only those with small minds want always to be right." -Louis XIV, I don't agree.

i don't agree because large minded people may think that. Like Galileo, Leonardo da Vinci and maybe even Einstein. And I'm not small minded, i have straight A's and the highest scores in my class.

Answer 1

If the "want always to be right" part refers to people talking, then i think its a good quote, because what is more important is if you actually are right or not, not whether you win the argument. In the end why really care whether you are right or not, but rather it would be better for one to 'want' to know what is right at the end of the day.

If the "want always to be right" part refers to wishing to actually know the right info (though i doubt that is what this quote is referring to), then this is a bad quote, because that would mean not wanting to gain knowledge.

Answer 2

Look, Galileo, Da Vinci and Einstein never wanted to be right. They were, though, seeking for the thruth.

Being a Straight A student doesn't mean that you're the "Lord of the reasons".

I totally agree with that quote.

Just a quick example:

George W. Bush thinks he's right and therefore he keeps our troops in Iraq seeking for foreign oil. Is he small-minded?

Think about it.

Answer 3

Okay the saying basically means that your centered on what you think and you aren't open to anyone elses opinion; that your right even if your really wrong and no one can change your mind which is where the small comes in because if you only have your point of view in mind their isn't any space of other peoples opinions...Someone like yourself might not agree because you either don't understand or is exactly the kind of person he's talking about

Answer 4

I understand what the purpose of the quote is. Be open minded enough to see that you could possibly be wrong and accept that someone else may be right. I don't think it's meant you're not smart, just that your mind is always open and vast. But, isn't it human nature to always have the desire to be right. Maybe it should be changed to "Only those with small minds HAVE to always be right."

Answer 5

I agree, "large minded" people are more concerned with learning what is right, whether it was originally their opinion or not, whereas small minded people just want the recognition of always being "right" even when they obviously can't be.

Answer 6

My interpretation:

People with more expanded intellect tend to view things from many different points. Therefore, they understand that a wide range of feelings/words/actions etc ARE correct in any given situation. In that respect, such people do not 'want' to be right, because they perceive the term 'right' as a much wider concept.

Answer 7

only the small-minded will always WANT to be right. large-minded people have large enough minds to know whether they are right, they will not feel the need to rub it in. for the truly intelligent, knowing is enough. the feeble-minded will argue to their death to prove a point, thereby always wanting to be right. smart does not mean large-minded.

Answer 8

I would depend on the fuller context, which is not only absent, I doubt it was originally in English.

My guess is that what he was referring to wasn't so much a person BEING right, but wanting everyone to KNOW they were right. As in, only an insecure person would say "I told you so" or argue until everyone else just gave up in disgust.

Answer 9

small-minded means having a narrow or selfish attitude, therefore the quote means that selfish people always wants to be the right in everything even if they are wrong, they do not want to be corrected.

the 'small minds' in the quote does not have to be understood literally, it should be taken figuratively.

Answer 10

Consider who the quote was from first of all. I don't agree that everyone with a "small" mind always want to be right.