Acting Quote by David D. Burns
“People who expect to feel guilty tend to be more sympathetic, to put themselves into other people's shoes, to think about the consequences of their behaviour before acting, and to treasure their morals. As a result they are less prone to lie, cheat or behave immorally when they conduct a business deal or spot an opportunity to make money, studies suggest. They are also likely to make better employees because people who think less about the future results of their actions are more likely to be late, to steal or to be rude to clients.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Feeling Good, David D. Burns, 1980
Guilt fosters empathy and moral behavior, reducing unethical actions in business and personal contexts.
In simple terms: Feeling guilty can make you more moral.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate healthy guilt to guide ethical choices.
Themes
ethics
psychology
business conduct
Mood
analytical
practical
Type
psychological
ethical
When to use this quote
- workplace decisions
- customer interactions
- financial negotiations
Key Concepts
guilt
empathy
morality
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance guilt and confidence?
- When should guilt be ignored?
A Different Perspective
Excessive guilt can lead to anxiety or paralysis.
![“I agree that [marriage] should be treated like a business deal. But every business deal has to have its own terms and its own kind of currency.” quote by Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9f5/ayn-rand-59_agree_i-agree-that-marriage-should-be-treated_1057272.jpg)
