"No harm comes to man from outside alone: dumbness is the objective spirit"

In this quote, Theodor Adorno is recommending that harm does not exclusively originated from external sources, however rather from the internal state of being "dumb." By "dumbness," Adorno is referring to an absence of crucial thinking and awareness of one's environments. He argues that this state of being is the "unbiased spirit," meaning it is a universal and unbiased reality that impacts all people. Adorno is highlighting the importance of being intellectually engaged and mindful in order to safeguard oneself from damage. This quote acts as a suggestion to continuously question and analyze the world around us, instead of passively accepting it.