...a person who thinks should not try to persuade others to his belief; that is what puts him on the road to a system; on the lamentable road of the man of conviction; politicians like to call themselves that; but what is a conviction? It is a thought that has come to a stop, that has congealed, and the man of conviction is a man restricted.
Milan Kundera emphasizes the importance of open-mindedness over conviction in his work "Testaments Betrayed." He argues that individuals should not try to impose their beliefs on others, as this leads to rigid thinking and a lack of growth. When a thought becomes a fixed belief, it halts the natural flow of ideas and reduces a person to a state of restriction. Convictions are thus portrayed as detrimental, creating a barrier to understanding and true dialogue.
The author suggests that politicians often embrace conviction as a part of their identity, claiming to be steadfast in their beliefs. However, Kundera challenges this notion, highlighting that such fixed mindsets can be harmful and limit one's perspective. A person who continuously thinks and reflects remains adaptable and open, while the person of conviction suffers from a stagnation that limits their intellectual freedom and growth.
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