Original artwork, not a still
The Conduct of Life ‧ 1860
We are born believing. A man bears beliefs as a tree bears apples.
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Belief is described as something people produce naturally, as fruit grows on a tree. The comparison makes conviction an ordinary feature of being human rather than an exceptional achievement. It invites attention to the abundance of what we accept, before asking which particular beliefs deserve our confidence.
Context reviewed
