Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame.
Alexander PopeRead
To observations which ourselves we make, we grow more partial for th' observer's sake.
Interpretation
We tend to become biased in our observations due to our personal involvement and perspectives.
This quote by Alexander Pope emphasizes how our personal experiences and positions as observers influence our interpretations of reality. When we make observations, we often allow our biases and emotional connections to color our view, leading us to prioritize our personal stake in the matter above an objective understanding.
In practice
During a discussion about a controversial topic, you might quote this to remind others of the biases that influence their views.
Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame.
What dire offence from am'rous causes springs, What mighty contests rise from trivial things.
Fair tresses man's imperial race ensnare; And beauty draws us with a single hair.
An honest man's the noblest work of God.
One thought of thee puts all the pomp to flight;_x000D_ _x000D_ Priests, tapers, temples, swim before my sight.
Who breaks a butterfly on a wheel?
The progress of the world means more enjoyment and more misery too.
There is no more great men; there is only great committees.
Searching for precious goods leads astray.
This is my philosophy on all life, not just when it comes to love. All the best things are terrifying, but that's why they're the best things. Nothing worth having comes easy. You have to be afraid to want it, afraid to lose it, afraid to try. If you feel that, then you know you're on to a winner.
We never look at just one thing; we are always looking at the relation between things and ourselves.
While I do not suggest that humanity will ever be able to dispense with its martyrs, I cannot avoid the suspicion that with a little more thought and a little less belief their number may be substantially reduced.
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