You may be sure that when a man begins to call himself a realist he is preparing to do something that he is secretly ashamed of doing.
Interpretation
This quote suggests that claiming to be a 'realist' often masks a person's guilt or shame about their actions.
Sydney J. Harris highlights the psychological defense mechanisms individuals may employ when justifying actions they lack confidence in. By labeling themselves as 'realists,' people may attempt to rationalize questionable decisions or behaviors, indicating an internal struggle between their ethical standards and their actions.
In practice
This quote can be used in a discussion about moral dilemmas and personal ethics.
A person is either himself or not himself; is either rooted in his existence or is a fabrication; has either found his humanhood or is still playing with masks and roles and status symbols. And nobody is more aware of this difference (although unconsciously) than a child. Only an authentic person can evoke a good response in the core of the other person; only person is resonant to person.
We evaluate others with a Godlike justice, but we want them to evaluate us with a Godlike compassion.
The commonest fallacy among women is that simply having children makes them a mother - which is as absurd as believing that having a piano makes one a musician.
Man's unique agony as a species consists in his perpetual conflict between the desire to stand out and the need to blend in.
"Terrorism" is what we call the violence of the weak, and we condemn it; "war" is what we call the violence of the strong, and we glorify it.
At it's highest level, the purpose of teaching is not to teachβit is to inspire the desire for learning. Once a student's mind is set on fire, it will find a way to provide its own fuel.
Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants.
He [God] watched over me before I knew him, and before I learned sense or even distinguished between good and evil, and he protected me, and consoled me as a father would his son.
Satan hasn't a single salaried helper; the Opposition employs a million.
I've always been a fan of issues around race and racialism, and I've loved playing with it. People act as though it isn't an issue, but it's a recurring theme in our lives globally.
To make war upon rebellion is messy and slow, like eating soup with a knife.
What sort of philosophers are we, who know absolutely nothing of the origin and destiny of cats?
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