Orlando, in Caliban, act 2, sc. 1 (1878).
“
As a rule, all heroism is due to a lack of reflection, and thus it is necessary to maintain a mass of imbeciles. If they once understand themselves the ruling men will be lost.
— Ernest Renan
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "As a rule, all heroism is due to a lack of reflection, and thus it is necessary to maintain a mass of imbeciles. If they once understand themselves the ruling men will be lost." in the context of "Orlando, in Caliban, act 2, sc. 1 (1878)." to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Ernest Renan" (Quotes)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
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About Ernest Renan
Ernest Renan (February 28, 1823 – October 12, 1892) was a French philosopher, playwright, historian, and writer.
About Ernest Renan
Ernest Renan (February 28, 1823 – October 12, 1892) was a French philosopher, playwright, historian, and writer.
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