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Greater things are believed of those who are absent.
Tacitus
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Being absent can sometimes lead to heightened perceptions and expectations of a person.

This quote by Tacitus suggests that when someone is not present, their absence can amplify the perceptions and beliefs others have about them. People often tend to idealize those who are absent, attributing to them qualities and potential accomplishments that may not necessarily align with reality. This speaks to the human tendency to fill gaps with imagination and assumption, leading to an inflated image of someone who is not there to counter these beliefs.

Themes

AbsencePerceptionBeliefIdealizationExpectation

In practice

Example use cases

In a team meeting, I reminded everyone that greater things are believed of those who are absent to highlight how our absent members are often thought of as more capable.

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