"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities"

I'm in the middle of reading Wisdom Takes Work and came across this quote by Voltaire:

Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.

It struck me as particularly relevant in today's world, where misinformation and extreme beliefs can - and often do - lead to harmful actions. The idea that convincing someone of something irrational can lead them to do terrible things is a powerful reminder of the responsibility we have in what we choose to believe and propagate.

It's incumbent on all of us to critically evaluate the information we encounter and to be wary of those who seek to manipulate our beliefs for their own ends.