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I think it's a waste of time to worry about the motives of…

“I think it's a waste of time to worry about the motives of why people are supportive of things. I think we should look at the thing itself. And if they're supportive of something that's sexist or racist, then it's a bad thing, but it's not because they're supportive of it that it's a bad thing.” quote by Lawrence Weiner
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“I think it's a waste of time to worry about the motives of why people are supportive of things. I think we should look at the thing itself. And if they're supportive of something that's sexist or racist, then it's a bad thing, but it's not because they're supportive of it that it's a bad thing.”

Lawrence Weiner

About This Quote

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

Focus on evaluating actions or ideas directly rather than attributing intent, arguing that the moral value of a stance is independent of who supports it.

In simple terms: Assess ideas, not supporters.

Key Takeaway

Judge content, not motives.

Themes

critical thinking ethical evaluation bias awareness social responsibility

Mood

analytical skeptical

Type

aphilosophical advice

When to use this quote

  • political debates
  • media analysis
  • organizational policy reviews

Key Concepts

intent vs. impact moral objectivity

Practical Applications

  • ethical decision‑making
  • public discourse moderation

Questions to Reflect On

  • Does the source of support affect the validity of an argument?
  • How can we separate intent from impact in practice?
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