What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.
George Bernard ShawRead
What a man believes may be ascertained, not from his creed, but from the assumptions on which he habitually acts.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A person's true beliefs are revealed by their actions rather than their stated beliefs.
This quote by George Bernard Shaw suggests that the genuine convictions of a person are not determined by what they profess to believe, but rather by the underlying assumptions that drive their behavior. It emphasizes the importance of observing actions as a more reliable indicator of belief than mere words, implying that true values and principles are reflected in behavior and choices made in everyday life.
Themes
BeliefsActionsValuesCreedHabits
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about morality, one might use this quote to emphasize that ethical behavior is a reflection of true beliefs.
More from George Bernard Shaw
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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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