Sincerity

We must really get a more clearheaded creed about intellectual error and moral responsibility, unless we wish to suffer what is always the punishment of muddle-headedness — a blind and brutal reaction, and the re-entrance of really cruel persecution. We cannot be content with the vague modern phrase that every sentiment must be tolerated so long as it is sincere. Sincerity is a palliation of partly evil things: but it is an aggravation of entirely evil things. That a man is a sincere Mormon makes him better; but that he is a sincere Satanist makes him worse. There are theories so vile, there are beliefs so abominable that one can only endure their existence by denying their sincerity. Sincerity in these cases has no moral value.

— The Illustrated London News, 24 February 2012.