Prejudices are what fools use for reason.
VoltaireRead
He is a hard man who is only just, and a sad one who is only wise.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Justice and wisdom require balance; being solely just or wise can lead to an unfulfilled life.
In this quote, Voltaire suggests that a person who is purely just lacks another important quality, perhaps empathy or compassion, which can make them seem harsh or unapproachable. Similarly, someone who is only wise may understand the world deeply but might be burdened by that knowledge, leading to sadness if they cannot act upon it. The quote emphasizes the importance of balance in life, suggesting that true fulfillment comes from integrating multiple virtues rather than pursuing any one trait in isolation.
Themes
JusticeWisdomBalanceLifePhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on ethics in a leadership seminar.
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It is dangerous to be right in matters where established men are wrong.
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It is not sufficient to see and to know the beauty of a work. We must feel and be affected by it.
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We are all full of weakness and errors; let us mutually pardon each other our follies - it is the first law of nature.
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It is better to risk saving a guilty man than to condemn an innocent one.
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