What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.
George Bernard ShawRead
When a stupid man is doing something he is ashamed of, he always declares that it is his duty.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that individuals often justify their shameful actions by claiming they are fulfilling a duty.
George Bernard Shaw highlights a common human behavior where individuals, particularly those who may lack insight or wisdom, rationalize their wrongful actions by framing them as responsibilities or obligations. This reflects a tendency to evade accountability by appealing to a sense of duty, often masking the true nature of their actions and the shame associated with them.
Themes
DutyShameJustificationBehaviorPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on morality, one might use this quote to illustrate how people often rationalize unethical decisions.
More from George Bernard Shaw
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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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