“Either you repeat conventional doctrines without thought, or else you say something true, and it will sound like it’s from Neptune.”
— Noam Chomsky
Simplified Meaning:
When you talk about common ideas that everyone already believes in, nobody will be surprised. It's like telling someone that water is wet—everyone knows that, so it doesn't lead to any new thinking. But if you share a new, honest idea that people haven't heard before, it might sound strange or even crazy to them. Imagine someone long ago saying the Earth is round. At that time, most people thought it was flat, so the new idea seemed absurd and difficult to accept. If you have a unique opinion or truth that goes against what most people believe, expect that it might be met with confusion or disbelief. This teaches us that discussing unusual but true ideas requires bravery, and it reminds us to be open-minded when we hear unexpected ideas from others.
