There is nothing so fleeting as the memory of benefits received.
Francesco GuicciardiniRead
He who imitates what is evil always goes beyond the example that is set; on the contrary, he who imitates what is good always falls short.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that imitating bad actions leads to an escalation of negativity, while imitating good actions often results in never fully achieving the ideal.
Francesco Guicciardini's quote reflects on the nature of human behavior and the consequences of imitation. It implies that when people follow bad examples, they tend to surpass the original negative actions, potentially leading to worse outcomes. Conversely, when striving to emulate good deeds, individuals often find themselves unable to reach the same heights of virtue as their role models, highlighting a common human struggle to achieve moral excellence.
Themes
ImitationGoodEvilBehaviorMoralityExamples
In practice
Example use cases
In a philosophy class, discussing the implications of moral choices in relation to this quote.
More from Francesco Guicciardini
All quotes βIf you attempt certain things at the right time, they are easy to accomplish - in fact, they almost get done by themselves. If you undertake them before the time is right, not only will they fail, but they will often become impossible to accomplish even when the time would have been right.
Francesco GuicciardiniRead
Conspiracies, since they cannot be engaged in without the fellowship of others, are for that reason most perilous; for as most men are either fools or knaves, we run excessive risk in making such folk our companions.
Francesco GuicciardiniRead
Let no one trust so entirely to natural prudence as to persuade himself that it will suffice to guide him without help from experience.
Francesco GuicciardiniRead
Few revolutions succeed, and when they do, you often discover they did not gain what you hoped for, and you condemn yourself to perpetual fear, as the parties you defeated may always regain power and work for your ruin.
Francesco GuicciardiniRead
One who imitates what is bad always goes beyond his model; while one who imitates what is good always comes up short of it.
Francesco GuicciardiniRead
Similar quotes
So you know how things stand. Now forget what they think of you. Be satisfied if you can live the rest of your life, however short, as your nature demands. Focus on that, and don't let anything distract you. You've wandered all over and finally realized that you never found what you were after: how to live. Not in syllogisms, not in money, or fame, or self-indulgence. Nowhere.
Marcus AureliusRead
We never see other people anyway, only the monsters we make of them.
Colson WhiteheadRead
In the ancient world individuals have sold themselves as slaves, in order to eat. So in society. Here is a witch-doctor who can save us from the sorcerers - a war-lord who can save us from the barbarians - a Church that can save us from Hell. Give them what they ask, give ourselves to them bound and blindfold, if only they will! Perhaps the terrible bargain will be made again. We cannot blame men for making it. We can hardly wish them not to. Yet we can hardly bear that they should.
C. S. LewisRead
If God seems to be in no hurry to make the problem of evil go away, maybe we shouldn't be, either. Maybe our compulsion to wash God's hands for him is a service he doesn't appreciate. Maybe - all theodicies and nearly all theologians to the contrary - evil is where we meet God. Maybe he isn't bothered by showing up dirty for his dates with creation. Maybe - just maybe - if we ever solved the problem, we'd have talked ourselves out of a lover.
Robert Farrar CaponRead
I can doubt everything, except one thing, and that is the very fact that I doubt. Simply put - I think, therefore I am
Rene DescartesRead
We are plain quiet folk, and I have no use for adventures. Nasty, disturbing, and uncomfortable things.
J. R. R. TolkienRead