If something can corrupt you, you're corrupted already.
Bob MarleyRead
If the awareness of our limitations begins to limit or to dim our value consciousness as well—as happens, for instance, in old age with regard to the values of youth—then we have already started the movement of devaluation which will end with the defamation of the world and all its values. Only a timely act of resignation can deliver us from this tendency toward self-delusion.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Awareness of our limitations can lead to a diminished sense of self-worth and the values we attribute to life, particularly as we age.
Max Scheler suggests that recognizing our limitations can sometimes result in a decline in our value consciousness, particularly when it comes to the vibrancy and worth associated with youth. This experience of devaluation can spiral into a broader condemnation of the values of the world. To counteract this negative trend, he emphasizes the importance of a timely act of resignation, a conscious decision to accept our circumstances without falling into the traps of self-deception.
Themes
LimitationsSelf-WorthValuesAgeResignationSelf-Delusion
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about embracing change as we age.
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