Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame.
Alexander PopeRead
Of all the causes which conspire to blind Man's erring judgement, and misguide the mind, What the weak head with strongest bias rules, Is PRIDE, the never-failing vice of fools.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Pride can distort judgment and lead to foolish decisions.
In this quote, Alexander Pope illustrates how pride acts as a powerful force that can cloud human judgment and influence decisions. He suggests that pride is a fundamental flaw in humans that often leads them astray, particularly highlighting that it is the foolish who are most susceptible to its sway, causing them to make misguided choices despite their intelligence or reasoning abilities.
Themes
PrideJudgmentFoolsBiasWisdom
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about leadership qualities, one might use this quote to emphasize the dangers of pride in decision-making.
More from Alexander Pope
All quotes βWhat dire offence from am'rous causes springs, What mighty contests rise from trivial things.
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Fair tresses man's imperial race ensnare; And beauty draws us with a single hair.
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An honest man's the noblest work of God.
Alexander PopeRead
One thought of thee puts all the pomp to flight;_x000D_ _x000D_ Priests, tapers, temples, swim before my sight.
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Who breaks a butterfly on a wheel?
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