The cause of all the blunders committed by man arises from…
“The cause of all the blunders committed by man arises from this excessive self-love. For the lover is blinded by the object loved; so that he passes a wrong judgment on what is just, good and beautiful, thinking that he ought always to honor what belongs to himself in preference to truth. For he who intends to be a great man ought to love neither himself nor his own things, but only what is just, whether it happens to be done by himself, or by another.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Excessive self‑love blinds judgment, causing people to favor personal interests over truth and justice.
In simple terms: Self‑love can distort sense of right and wrong.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize justice over personal bias.
Themes
justice
self‑love
bias
philosophy
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- political leadership
- personal decision‑making
- legal judgments
Key Concepts
ethics
ego
objectivity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you recognize when self‑interest conflicts with justice?
- Can personal ambition ever serve the greater good?
A Different Perspective
Self‑interest can sometimes align with the common good, complicating the binary.