Belief like any other moving body follows the path of least resistance.
Samuel ButlerRead
People care more about being thought to have taste than about being thought either good, clever or amiable.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People value their image and how others perceive their taste more than their actual qualities or virtues.
This quote suggests that individuals prioritize the perception of having good taste over being recognized for their inherent goodness, intelligence, or likability. It reflects a societal tendency to place higher importance on external judgments and trends rather than on authenticity or personal virtues.
Themes
TastePerceptionSocietyImageValues
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about fashion trends, this quote could highlight how much effort people put into looking stylish.
More from Samuel Butler
All quotes βTo know God better is only to realize how impossible it is that we should ever know him at all. I know not which is more childish to deny him, or define him.
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Academic and aristocratic people live in such an uncommon atmosphere that common sense can rarely reach them.
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An apology for the devil: it must be remembered that we have heard one side of the case. God has written all the books.
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Young people have a marvelous faculty of either dying or adapting themselves to circumstances.
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A friend who cannot at a pinch remember a thing or two that never happened is as bad as one who does not know how to forget.
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