"Bigotry and intolerance, silenced by argument, endeavors to silence by persecution, in old days by fire and sword, in modern days by the tongue"

Charles Simmons' quote poignantly highlights the development of how society faces dissenting ideas and beliefs. At its core, it highlights the troubling persistence of bigotry and intolerance throughout history, and how these forces adapt to the dominating societal standards to keep their impact.

The phrase "silenced by argument" recommends a perfect where logical discourse and dispute triumph over bias and narrow-mindedness. This part of the quote indicates a belief in the power of factor and discussion to address and neutralize hazardous ideologies. However, Simmons rapidly points out a darker truth: when bigotry and intolerance are unable to endure sensible analysis and are "silenced" by engaging arguments, they do not simply vanish. Instead, they resort to more suppressive methods-- once manifesting as physical persecution through "fire and sword."

The recommendation to "fire and sword" conjures images of historical oppression, such as the religious and ideological persecutions during the Inquisition or various other circumstances where dissenters were strongly suppressed. This images serves as a stark reminder of humankind's propensity for using violence to enforce conformity and suppress opposing voices.

Transitioning to "modern days", Simmons observes a shift in techniques: the weapon of option ends up being spoken rather than physical--"by the tongue". This recommends that, in contemporary society, persecution frequently takes the type of slander, character assassination, or censorship rather than straight-out violence. Words can wound deeply, and the effort to silence dissent through character assassination, ridicule, or other types of spoken hostility is a prevalent issue in modern discourse.

By relating past physical persecution with present-day spoken attacks, Simmons underscores the perilous nature of intolerance. The quote challenges readers to acknowledge the ongoing fight versus bigotry in all its kinds and to uphold the concepts of open, considerate discussion as the most reliable means to combat it. Through this lens, the quote functions as both a caution and a call to action, urging society to stay watchful against the ever-evolving strategies of intolerance.