For the tolerant to tolerate,
they must tolerate the intolerant.
Enola Straight: It’s the credo of those who confuse ‘tolerance’ with ‘meek acceptance’.
In other words, it’s saying that anyone who claims to be tolerant cannot complain about loutish boors, hateful zealots, or the proudly ignorant. Remember, tolerance is the unconditional love you extend a toothache prior to a visit to the dentist, or a relative prior to a visit to the mortuary.
Hmmmm, pointless statement. How about:
“It’s windy for today’s parade, men, and we’re between two giant character balloons, so do not fix bayonets.”
AskNott - I heard your quote in Dan Aykroyd’s voice a la Blues Brothers:
All you need is the “Hit it.”
I personally like my udders a bit pointy.
It’s crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide.
Or “intolerance” with “discrimination” (and “discrimination” with “prejudice”, come to think of it.)
It means that we’re all intolerant of something. The people who most often pride themselves on their tolerance are often intolerant of the intolerant - the bigots, racists, misogynists, etc. It’s supposed to be a pithy dig at the tolerant, saying, “well, if you were REALLY tolerant, you’d tolerate the intolerant, too! Neener-neener!”
It’s not pointless. It’s just wrong.
Things are more like they are now than they have ever been before.
Supposedly attributed to President Eisenhower, but I’m sure someone will stick Bush with it.
I don’t like to judge, but I will say that judgemental peope are seriously whacked.