Art begins when a man, with a purpose of communicating to other people a feeling he once experienced, calls it up again within himself and expresses it by certain external signs.
Leo TolstoyRead
At school he had done things which had formerly seemed to him very horrid and made him feel disgusted with himself when he did them; but when later on he saw that such actions were done by people of good position and that they did not regard them as wrong, he was able not exactly to regard them as right, but to forget about them entirely or not be at all troubled at remembering them.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the conflicting nature of morality and how societal influence can shape one's perception of right and wrong.
In this quote, Tolstoy illustrates the complex relationship between personal ethics and societal norms. While the character initially feels disgusted by certain behaviors, their perspective shifts upon observing others in respected positions engaging in the same actions without guilt. This captures a philosophical exploration of morality, suggesting that our understanding of right and wrong can become blurred through social context, leading to a dissociation from one's own moral judgments.
Themes
MoralitySocietyEthicsPerceptionSelf-Reflection
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about ethical dilemmas in business, one might use this quote to illustrate how societal norms can shift personal moral standards.
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