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Besides, do any of us understand what we are doing? If we did, would we ever do it?
George Bernard Shaw
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote questions the depth of human understanding in our actions and decisions.

George Bernard Shaw's quote reflects on the complexity of human behavior and the often subconscious motivations behind our actions. It suggests that if people truly understood their choices and the implications of their decisions, they might hesitate or choose differently, highlighting the paradox of knowledge and action in human experience.

Themes

UnderstandingActionKnowledgeHuman BehaviorDecisions

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a discussion about the motivations behind our daily choices.

More from George Bernard Shaw

What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.
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The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.
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