Mean Quote by Harry Hay
“The moment you say, "We are proud. I'm proud to be this, and I'm proud to be that," what you're saying is we're almost as good as the others. "Almost" always means not quite.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on LGBTQ activism, 1970s
Pride expressed as a comparison to others implies a sense of inferiority, suggesting true self‑acceptance should be unconditional.
In simple terms: Comparing pride to others shows insecurity.
Key Takeaway
Embrace pride without comparison.
Themes
self‑acceptance
pride
equality
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- activism meetings
- personal reflection
- community building
Key Concepts
identity
social comparison
self‑esteem
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you celebrate identity without measuring against others?
- What does unconditional pride look like?
A Different Perspective
Comparison can reinforce hierarchy and limit authentic confidence.
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
