"To be civilized is to be potentially master of all possible ideas, and that means that one has got beyond being shocked, although one preserves one's own moral aesthetic preferences"

This quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes recommends that being civil means having the capacity to recognize as well as accept a range of ideas, even if they vary from one's own. It indicates that a person ought to not be conveniently surprised or annoyed by various viewpoints, however need to still preserve their very own moral and aesthetic worths. This quote urges individuals to be broad-minded and forgiving of various point of views, while still respecting their very own ideas. It suggests that being civil is not about thoughtlessly accepting all ideas, yet instead having the capability to take into consideration and assess them fairly. By doing so, one can get a much better understanding of the world and also its complexities. Eventually, this quote motivates us to be much more accepting of various point of views, while still preserving our own values.