Baruch Spinoza, Theological-Political Treatise (1670), Chapter 20, That In a Free State Every Man May Think What He Likes, and Say What He Thinks.

Men in general are so constituted that there is nothing they will endure with so little patience as that views which they believe to be true should be counted crimes against the laws. … Under such circumstances they do not think it disgraceful, but most honorable, to hold the laws in abhorrence, and to refrain from no action against the government.

— Baruch Spinoza on Abhorrence

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "Men in general are so constituted that there is nothing they will endure with so little patience as that views which they believe to be true should be counted crimes against the laws. … Under such circumstances they do not think it disgraceful, but most honorable, to hold the laws in abhorrence, and to refrain from no action against the government." in the context of "Baruch Spinoza, Theological-Political Treatise (1670), Chapter 20, That In a Free State Every Man May Think What He Likes, and Say What He Thinks." to mean that wisdom is timeless.

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Source: Wikiquote: "Abhorrence" (Quotes) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
Baruch Spinoza

About Baruch Spinoza

Benedictus de Spinoza (24 November 1632 – 21 February 1677) was a social and metaphysical philosopher known for the elaborate development of his monist philosophy, which has become known as Spinozism. Controversy regarding his ideas led to his excommunication from the Jewish community of his native Amsterdam. He was named Baruch ("blessed" in Hebrew) Spinoza by his synagogue elders and known as Bento de Spinoza or Bento d'Espiñoza, but afterwards used the name Benedictus ("blessed" in Latin) de Spinoza.