The discovery of truth is prevented more effectively, not by the

The words of Arthur Schopenhauer—“The discovery of truth is prevented more effectively, not by the false appearance things present and which mislead into error, not directly by weakness of the reasoning powers, but by preconceived opinion, by prejudice.”—resound like a stern warning carved in stone. In them, the philosopher unmasks the greatest enemy of truth: not deception from without, nor frailty of the mind, but the blindness we impose upon ourselves when we cling to prejudice. For a false appearance may be corrected, and a weak reason may be strengthened, but a hardened heart that refuses to question its own assumptions stands like a fortress against the light.

The origin of this thought lies in Schopenhauer’s relentless struggle against dogma and illusion. He believed that the mind’s greatest chains are not the lies others tell us, but the lies we tell ourselves. When a man is deceived by outward appearances, time and inquiry may eventually free him. But when he begins with preconceived opinion, all evidence that challenges it is cast aside, and every reasoning power is twisted into its servant. Thus Schopenhauer speaks with clarity: prejudice is more dangerous than ignorance, for ignorance may learn, but prejudice refuses to.

History illustrates this truth with painful clarity. Consider the trial of Galileo. The telescope revealed that the earth moved around the sun, and that the heavens were not fixed as men had long believed. Yet the scholars and clergy of his time, armed with preconceived opinion, refused to see. It was not that their reason was weak—they were learned men. Nor was it that the evidence was hidden—the stars themselves bore witness. It was their prejudice, their refusal to let go of established belief, that prevented the discovery of truth. Thus, the world stumbled, not for lack of evidence, but for lack of humility.

The same pattern can be seen in the struggles against slavery. For centuries, men justified the bondage of their fellow humans. The evidence of cruelty was plain: chains, whips, and families torn apart. The reasoning that all men are equal was clear to any honest heart. Yet prejudice blinded nations, turning reason into a servant of injustice. Only when hearts began to soften, when preconceived opinions were broken, could the truth of human dignity shine forth. Once again, it was not weakness of intellect that chained the world, but the power of prejudice to silence truth.

The ancients taught that the first step toward wisdom is the confession of ignorance. Socrates declared that he knew nothing, and in this humility, he opened himself to truth. Schopenhauer builds upon this wisdom: only when we loosen our grip on preconceived opinion can truth find its way into the soul. To cling to prejudice is to choose blindness over sight, chains over freedom. To let go is rare, for pride resists it, but it is the only path toward clarity.

For us, the lesson is urgent and practical. We must not imagine that prejudice lives only in the past or in the hearts of others. Each of us carries within ourselves assumptions, biases, and opinions inherited from culture, upbringing, or pride. These are the greatest obstacles to discovery. If we would be seekers of truth, we must first be slayers of prejudice. We must approach new ideas with openness, examine evidence with honesty, and train ourselves to recognize when pride, not reason, is steering our judgment.

Therefore, take these actions: question your assumptions daily. When confronted with evidence that challenges you, resist the reflex to dismiss it, and instead weigh it carefully. Seek voices beyond your circle, for prejudice thrives in echo chambers. Practice humility, remembering that to be wrong and corrected is nobler than to cling to falsehood in pride. For as Schopenhauer teaches, it is not deception or weakness that most hinders us, but the tyranny of preconceived opinion. Break those chains, and the path to truth will be opened before you.