Unbounded courage and compassion join'd, Tempering each other in the victor's mind, Alternately proclaim him good and great, And make the hero and the man complete.
Joseph AddisonRead
What an absurd thing it is to pass over all the valuable parts of a man, and fix our attention on his infirmities.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the tendency to focus on people's flaws rather than their strengths and positives.
Joseph Addison's quote challenges the common human inclination to dwell on the imperfections and shortcomings of individuals rather than recognizing and appreciating their valuable traits and contributions. It suggests that such an obsession with flaws is absurd and invites a more balanced perspective that celebrates the entirety of a person's character.
Themes
PerceptionStrengthsFlawsCharacterHuman Nature
In practice
Example use cases
This quote is perfect for a motivational speech on self-acceptance.
More from Joseph Addison
All quotes βGood nature is more agreeable in conversation than wit and gives a certain air to the countenance which is more amiable than beauty.
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Ridicule is generally made use of to laugh men out of virtue and good sense, by attacking everything praiseworthy in human life.
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Admiration is a very short lived passion that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object, unless it still be fed with fresh discoveries, and kept alive by a new perpetual succession of miracles rising up to its view.
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It is impossible for us, who live in the latter ages of the world, to make observations in criticism, morality, or in any art or science, which have not been touched upon by others. We have little else left us but to represent the common sense of mankind in more strong, more beautiful, or more uncommon lights.
Joseph AddisonRead
An ostentatious man will rather relate a blunder or an absurdity he has committed, than be debarred from talking of his own dear person.
Joseph AddisonRead
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