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might call it a great passion. When the true name of what…

“might call it a great passion. When the true name of what we’re dealing with is greed, or lust. We all have the special talent of believing in a falsehood, and believing it devoutly, when we want it to be true.” quote by Barbara Kingsolver
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““might call it a great passion. When the true name of what we’re dealing with is greed, or lust. We all have the special talent of believing in a falsehood, and believing it devoutly, when we want it to be true.””

Barbara Kingsolver

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People often rationalize harmful desires like greed or lust by convincing themselves they are noble passions, masking falsehoods with devotion.

In simple terms: We lie to ourselves about bad motives.

Key Takeaway

Question your true motives.

Themes

self-deception morality desire

Mood

reflective critical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • personal relationships
  • political rhetoric
  • marketing
  • self‑reflection

Key Concepts

cognitive bias ethical rationalization

Questions to Reflect On

  • What desire are you justifying?
  • How does belief shape reality?
A Different Perspective

Self‑justification can blind us to harm.

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