What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.
George Bernard ShawRead
Oh, come! That boot is on the other leg. Why should you call me to account for eating decently? If I battened on the scorched corpses of animals, you might well ask me why I did that
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote questions the hypocrisy in judging others' choices while ignoring one's own faults.
George Bernard Shaw uses this quote to highlight the hypocrisy often present in moral judgments. The speaker implies that it is unfair to criticize someone for their ethical choices, especially when the accuser participates in morally questionable actions themselves. The imagery of 'boot on the other leg' suggests that the roles of oppressor and oppressed can easily be reversed, emphasizing the inconsistency in how society applies moral standards.
Themes
HypocrisyJudgmentMoralityCriticismChoices
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate on ethical eating, you might use this quote to illustrate the double standards in moral arguments.
More from George Bernard Shaw
All quotes →Marriage is good enough for the lower classes: they have facilities for desertion that are denied to us.
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Forgive him, for he believes that the customs of his tribe are the laws of nature!
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Those who talk most about the blessings of marriage and the constancy of its vows are the very people who declare that if the chain were broken and the prisoners left free to choose, the whole social fabric would fly asunder. You cannot have the argument both ways. If the prisoner is happy, why lock him in? If he is not, why pretend that he is?
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Treat a friend as a person who may someday become your enemy; an enemy as a person who may someday become your friend.
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The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.
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