"Let us beware of common folk, of common sense, of sentiment, of inspiration, and of the obvious"

This quote by Charles Baudelaire is a cautioning to be wary of the impacts of the masses, of standard wisdom, of feeling, of creativity, and of the obvious. Baudelaire is cautioning us to be mindful of the power of these forces and to be aware of their possible to lead us astray. He is recommending that we ought to not be too quick to accept the ideas of the majority, the standard knowledge, or the simple answers. Rather, we must be open to checking out new ideas and viewpoints, and to thinking critically and individually. We should likewise understand the power of feeling and imagination, and how they can be used to manipulate us. Lastly, we need to watch out for the apparent, as it can often lead us to neglect important details and nuances. By being mindful of these influences, we can ensure that we are making choices based on our own independent thought and analysis.