Pride is founded not on the sense of happiness, but on the sense of power.
William HazlittRead
There are few things in which we deceive ourselves more than in the esteem we profess to entertain for our friends. It is little better than a piece of quackery. The truth is, we think of them as we please, that is, as they please or displease us.
Interpretation
What this quote means
We often misrepresent our feelings towards friends based on our subjective perceptions.
In this quote, William Hazlitt suggests that our claims of valuing friendships are often deceptive. He argues that our true feelings toward our friends are more influenced by how they affect us rather than any genuine esteem we may profess, pointing out the subjective nature of our relationships.
Themes
FriendshipDeceptionEsteemFeelingsRelationships
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the nature of friendships during a psychology class.
More from William Hazlitt
All quotes →The world loves to be amused by hollow professions, to be deceived by flattering appearances, to live in a state of hallucination; and can forgive everything but the plain, downright, simple, honest truth.
William HazlittRead
Our repugnance to death increases in proportion to our consciousness of having lived in vain.
William HazlittRead
We can bear to be deprived of everything but our self-conceit.
William HazlittRead
There are few things in which we deceive ourselves more than in the esteem we profess to entertain for our firends. It is little better than a piece of quackery. The truth is, we think of them as we please, that is, as they please or displease us.
William HazlittRead
Prosperity is a great teacher; adversity is a greater. Possession pampers the mind; privation trains and strengthens it.
William HazlittRead
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