He who acts under an emotional impulse also acts. What…
“He who acts under an emotional impulse also acts. What distinguishes an emotional action from other actions is the valuation of input and output. Emotions disarrange valuations. Inflamed with passion, man sees the goal as more desirable and the price he has to pay for it as less burdensome than he would in cool deliberation.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Emotions skew our assessment of costs and benefits, making us overvalue goals and undervalue effort.
In simple terms: Passion distorts judgment of value.
Key Takeaway
Recognize emotional bias before deciding.
Themes
economics
psychology
decision making
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
philosophical
practical
When to use this quote
- investment decisions
- personal relationships
- career planning
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
valuation
emotional bias
cost-benefit analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you separate genuine desire from emotional hype?
- When should you trust your gut versus rational analysis?
A Different Perspective
Emotions can also provide useful motivation, not just distortion.