Unbounded courage and compassion join'd, Tempering each other in the victor's mind, Alternately proclaim him good and great, And make the hero and the man complete.
Joseph AddisonRead
A man's first care should be to avoid the reproaches of his own heart; his next, to escape the censures of the world: if the last interferes with the former, it ought to be entirely neglected; but otherwise there cannot be a greater satisfaction to an honest mind, than to see those approbations which it gives itself seconded by the applauses of the public.
Interpretation
What this quote means
One should prioritize self-approval over societal approval, but the latter can be rewarding if it aligns with the former.
In this quote, Joseph Addison emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and personal integrity as the foremost concern in a person's life. He suggests that an individual’s internal satisfaction and self-approval should take precedence over external validation from society. While public praise can be gratifying, it should not come at the cost of compromising one's own values and conscience, as true contentment is found in the harmony of self-approbation and public acknowledgment.
Themes
Self-ApprovalIntegritySocietyHonestySatisfaction
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a motivational talk about personal integrity.
More from Joseph Addison
All quotes →Good nature is more agreeable in conversation than wit and gives a certain air to the countenance which is more amiable than beauty.
Joseph AddisonRead
Ridicule is generally made use of to laugh men out of virtue and good sense, by attacking everything praiseworthy in human life.
Joseph AddisonRead
Admiration is a very short lived passion that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object, unless it still be fed with fresh discoveries, and kept alive by a new perpetual succession of miracles rising up to its view.
Joseph AddisonRead
It is impossible for us, who live in the latter ages of the world, to make observations in criticism, morality, or in any art or science, which have not been touched upon by others. We have little else left us but to represent the common sense of mankind in more strong, more beautiful, or more uncommon lights.
Joseph AddisonRead
An ostentatious man will rather relate a blunder or an absurdity he has committed, than be debarred from talking of his own dear person.
Joseph AddisonRead
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