It is in books, poems, paintings which often give us the confidence to take seriously feelings in ourselves that we might otherwise never have thought to acknowledge.
Alain De BottonRead
Reputation matters so much only because people so seldom think for themselves.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Reputation influences people's opinions, often overshadowing independent thought.
This quote by Alain De Botton highlights the importance of reputation in society, suggesting that many people do not engage in critical thinking or form their own opinions. As a result, they rely heavily on the perceptions established by others, which can lead to a conformist mindset where personal judgment is undervalued.
Themes
ReputationIndependent ThoughtSocietyOpinionConformity
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on social media ethics, this quote can remind participants to think critically rather than follow popular opinions.
More from Alain De Botton
All quotes →Taking architecture seriously therefore makes some singular and strenuous demands upon us...It means conceding that we are inconveniently vulnerable to the colour of our wallpaper and that our sense of purpose may be derailed by an unfortunate bedspread
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The more closely we analyze what we consider 'sexy,' the more clearly we will understand that eroticism is the feeling of excitement we experience at finding another human being who shares our values and our sense of the meaning of existence.
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Good books put a finger on emotions that are deeply our own - but that we could never have described on our own.
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It is the most ambitious and driven among us who are the most sorely in need of having our reckless hopes dampened through immersive dousings in the darkness which religions have explored. This is a particular priority for secular Americans, perhaps the most anxious and disappointed people on earth, for their nation infuses them with the most extreme hopes about what they may be able to achieve in their working lives and relationships.
Alain De BottonRead
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