Wendy, Wendy, when you are sleeping in your silly bed you might be flying about with me saying funny things to the stars.
James M. BarrieRead
Never ascribe to an opponent motives meaner than your own.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Avoid assuming negative intentions in others that you wouldn't apply to yourself.
This quote by James M. Barrie encourages individuals to refrain from attributing malicious motives to their opponents that they themselves do not possess. By promoting empathy and self-reflection, the quote suggests that one should hold themselves to the same moral standards they expect of others, fostering a more humane and understanding approach to conflict and disagreement.
Themes
EmpathyUnderstandingMoralityIntentionConflict
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate, one might use this quote to emphasize the importance of fair criticism.
More from James M. Barrie
All quotes βHis lordship may compel us to be equal upstairs, but there will never be equality in the servants' hall.
James M. BarrieRead
The secret of happiness is not in doing what one likes, but in liking what one does.
James M. BarrieRead
It was then that Hook bit him. Not the pain of this but its unfairness was what dazed Peter. It made him quite helpless. He could only stare, horrified. Every child is affected thus the first time he is treated unfairly. All he thinks he has a right to when he comes to you to be yours is fairness. After you have been unfair to him he will love you again, but he will never afterwards be quite the same boy. No one ever gets over the first unfairness; no one except Peter.
James M. BarrieRead
But the years came and went without bringing the careless boy; and when they met again Wendy was a married woman, and Peter was no more to her than a little dust in the box in which she had kept her toys.
James M. BarrieRead
Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting.
James M. BarrieRead
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