Prejudices are what fools use for reason.
VoltaireRead
This self-love is the instrument of our preservation; it resembles the provision for the perpetuity of mankind: it is necessary, it is dear to us, it gives us pleasure, and we must conceal it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Self-love is essential for our survival and well-being, yet it often remains hidden.
In this quote, Voltaire emphasizes the importance of self-love as a fundamental aspect of human existence. It serves as a means of preserving ourselves and our happiness, indicating that while it is vital and valuable, it is often kept concealed due to societal norms or expectations.
Themes
Self-LovePreservationWell-BeingHappinessConcealment
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a self-help workshop to encourage participants to value themselves.
More from Voltaire
All quotes →He was a great patriot, a humanitarian, a loyal friend; provided, of course, he really is dead.
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It is dangerous to be right in matters where established men are wrong.
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It is not sufficient to see and to know the beauty of a work. We must feel and be affected by it.
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We are all full of weakness and errors; let us mutually pardon each other our follies - it is the first law of nature.
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It is better to risk saving a guilty man than to condemn an innocent one.
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