It is, I believe, one of the few dangerous forms of…
““It is, I believe, one of the few dangerous forms of eccentricity, a highly contagious mania, to be precise, of the rampant social variety! In your friend's case, we may not yet be dealing with out-and-out insanity . . . No . . . Maybe his trouble is only exaggerated conviction . . . But the contagious manias are well known to me! . . . I've known a good many sufferers from conviction mania . . . Of many different types . . . And in the last analysis, those who talk about justice seem to be the maddest of the lot! . . . At first, I must confess, I took a certain interest in justice fanatics . . . Today those particular maniacs annoy and exasperate me more than I can tell . . . Don't you feel the same way? . . . Human beings show a strange aptitude for transmitting this mania. It terrifies me, and we find it, mind you, in all human beings!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Obsessive zeal for justice can become a contagious mania, blurring sanity and reason.
In simple terms: Justice obsession can turn irrational.
Key Takeaway
Beware of extreme convictions.
Themes
justice
madness
social influence
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- political activism
- legal debates
- social movements
Key Concepts
psychology
philosophy
politics
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives people to extreme justice?
- How to balance passion with reason?
A Different Perspective
Extreme zeal may alienate allies.