People do not always understand the motives of sublime conduct, and when they are astonished they are very apt to think they ought to be alarmed. The truth is none are fit judges of greatness but those who are capable of it.
Jane PorterRead
I never yet heard man or woman much abused that I was not inclined to think the better of them, and to transfer the suspicion or dislike to the one who found pleasure in pointing out the defects of another.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that criticism often reflects more on the critic than the subject being criticized.
Jane Porter’s quote emphasizes the idea that when someone speaks negatively about another person, it may reveal more about their own character than the faults of the individual being discussed. It suggests an inclination to sympathize with those who are criticized and to question the motives of those who point out others' shortcomings, highlighting a philosophical stance on human behavior and morality.
Themes
CriticismMoralityHuman BehaviorSympathyCharacter
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on ethics, one might use this quote to illustrate the nature of human judgment.
More from Jane Porter
All quotes →Happiness is a sunbeam which may pass through a thousand bosoms without losing a particle of its original ray; nay, when it strikes on a kindred heart, like the converged light on a mirror, it reflects itself with redoubled brightness. It is not perfected till it is shared.
Jane PorterRead
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