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Admiration, n. Our polite recognition of another's resemblance to ourselves.
Ambrose Bierce
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Admiration is often a reflection of our own qualities or desires.

This quote suggests that when we admire someone, it is not merely an appreciation of their unique qualities but rather a recognition of how they reflect our own traits, aspirations, or ideals. It highlights the subjective nature of admiration, indicating that we see in others the aspects we value or desire in ourselves.

Themes

AdmirationRecognitionSelf-ReflectionQualitiesSimilarity

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about personal growth, one might say, 'As Ambrose Bierce noted, admiration is often a mirror reflecting our own qualities.'

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PARDON, v. To remit a penalty and restore to the life of crime. To add to the lure of crime the temptation of ingratitude.
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Quote by Ambrose Bierce | QuoteProject