I would not unduly praise the virtue of restraint. It is…
“I would not unduly praise the virtue of restraint. It is often merely temperamental. But it is not always a sign of coldness. It may be pride. There can be nothing more humiliating than to see the shaft of one's emotion miss the mark of either laughter or tears. Nothing more humiliating! And this for the reason that should the mark be missed, should the open display of emotion fail to move, then it must perish unavoidably in disgust or contempt.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Restraint can hide pride, and missing the right emotional expression leads to humiliation and contempt.
In simple terms: Holding back emotions may be prideful and cause embarrassment.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and express emotions appropriately.
Themes
emotion
pride
humiliation
expression
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- public speaking
- conflict resolution
- leadership
- artistic performance
Key Concepts
psychology
social perception
authenticity
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you often hide emotions?
- How does authentic expression affect relationships?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on restraint can suppress genuine feelings and damage trust.