"Ceux qui ne défendent rien succombent à tout."
— Alexander Hamilton
Simplified Meaning:
This quote means that if a person doesn't have strong beliefs or values, they can easily be influenced or swayed by others. Imagine a tree with deep roots: it's hard to knock it over because it’s firmly planted. But a tree with shallow roots can be knocked down easily. For instance, think about peer pressure in high school. If a student knows the difference between right and wrong and sticks to these beliefs, they won't easily give in to trying drugs or bullying others just because their friends are doing it. However, someone who doesn’t have strong opinions or a clear sense of what they believe in might follow the crowd and make harmful choices just to fit in. So the advice here is to know what you believe in and stay true to those beliefs. This will help you make better decisions and not be misled by others. It is about being confident in your values so you can stand firm, even when others try to push you in different directions.