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People who expect to feel guilty tend to be more…

“People who expect to feel guilty tend to be more sympathetic, to put themselves into other people's shoes, to think about the consequences of their behaviour before acting, and to treasure their morals. As a result they are less prone to lie, cheat or behave immorally when they conduct a business…” quote by David D. Burns
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“People who expect to feel guilty tend to be more sympathetic, to put themselves into other people's shoes, to think about the consequences of their behaviour before acting, and to treasure their morals. As a result they are less prone to lie, cheat or behave immorally when they conduct a business deal or spot an opportunity to make money, studies suggest. They are also likely to make better employees because people who think less about the future results of their actions are more likely to be late, to steal or to be rude to clients.”

David D. Burns

About This Quote

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

Guilt fosters empathy and moral behavior, reducing unethical actions in business and personal contexts.

In simple terms: Feeling guilty can make you more moral.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate healthy guilt to guide ethical choices.

Themes

ethics psychology business conduct

Mood

analytical practical

Type

psychological ethical

When to use this quote

  • workplace decisions
  • customer interactions
  • financial negotiations

Key Concepts

guilt empathy morality

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you balance guilt and confidence?
  • When should guilt be ignored?
A Different Perspective

Excessive guilt can lead to anxiety or paralysis.

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