What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.
George Bernard ShawRead
Custom will reconcile people to any atrocity, and fashion will drive them to acquire any custom.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Societal norms can normalize terrible behaviors, while trends shape our desires.
George Bernard Shaw's quote reflects on the power of customs and fashions in shaping human behavior. He suggests that people can become accustomed to even the most horrible acts through societal norms, while at the same time, the influence of fashion can compel individuals to adopt new customs and behaviors that may contradict their values. This highlights the dual capacity of societal influences to both numb people to atrocities and encourage the embrace of fleeting trends.
Themes
CustomAtrocityFashionSocietyBehaviorNorms
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about social change, this quote can illustrate how habits can lead to moral disengagement.
More from George Bernard Shaw
All quotes βMarriage is good enough for the lower classes: they have facilities for desertion that are denied to us.
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Forgive him, for he believes that the customs of his tribe are the laws of nature!
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Those who talk most about the blessings of marriage and the constancy of its vows are the very people who declare that if the chain were broken and the prisoners left free to choose, the whole social fabric would fly asunder. You cannot have the argument both ways. If the prisoner is happy, why lock him in? If he is not, why pretend that he is?
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Treat a friend as a person who may someday become your enemy; an enemy as a person who may someday become your friend.
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The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.
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