Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen.
What's the meaning of this quote?
Quote Meaning: This quote proposes a critical perspective on what we often refer to as 'common sense.' It suggests that much of what we accept as obvious or self-evident truths may not be universal realities, but rather prejudices or biases that we've unconsciously absorbed from our environment during our formative years.
The term 'prejudices' here doesn't necessarily mean negative or harmful biases, but rather uncritically accepted beliefs and attitudes. By the age of eighteen, many of our basic perceptions about the world are formed by our upbringing, social environment, education, culture, and personal experiences. These shape our common sense, our intuitive judgments about what seems right or sensible.
However, these judgments aren't always universally applicable or even accurate. They can be biased by our limited experience, or by cultural or societal norms that we've been conditioned to accept without questioning. Thus, the quote serves as a reminder to scrutinize our 'common sense' assumptions and to remain open to perspectives that challenge these assumptions. It's a call for intellectual humility, continuous learning, and the willingness to question and reassess our ingrained beliefs.
Who said the quote?
The quote "Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." was said by Albert Einstein (Bio / Quotes). Albert Einstein was a German physicist and Nobel Prize winner who is widely regarded as one of the most influential scientists in history.
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
